Dance Recital

About 7 pm last Saturday evening, Ashley and I talked about going to a local dance school's "recital"; normally something that would sound rather painful. However, we'd heard it was really good, and was going to be in the theatre across the street from us. Since I had to get up early (and it was said to finish well past midnight, despite starting at 9), I decided at the outset that I would not stay for the whole performance. 

We stopped by the theatre to request tickets. They still had a few side boxes at the very top of the theatre, but most of the tickets had already sold. Problem? Well, despite the fact that there were TWO people behind the ticket counter, neither one could actually sell us the tickets or reserve them or otherwise be at all helpful; this is pretty much par for the course with this sort of event. The ladies behind the counter did let me know that they thought there would be a ticket seller there around 8, though.

Nothing daunted, Michael and I stopped in about 8:10 on our way to dinner. There was a gentleman behind the counter who was busily doing something. After waiting a few moments, I inquired as to whether he could sell us tickets (having previously ascertained that the box seats hadn't sold, based on the hand drawing showing availability that they place on the counter at every event). The fellow who was waiting beside me exasperatedly exclaimed in his place, "Oh, no, he can't possibly do it. The people who sell tickets are working in the theatre and won't come out to actually, say, sell the tickets." Well, okay, then!

After a pizza dinner al fresco, we went back to the theatre office a few minutes past nine. Success! There were people there who could and would sell tickets! We delightedly went up to our box to the first strains of music.

The location is always a treat. That's just a given, but I love it every single time.

And the dance recital? If I hadn't known it was a school, there were definitely near-professional grade pieces in there. We were also treated to the little ones...amazingly, there were enough of them who did a good enough job that the occasional vagaries were absolutely precious. The costumes were incredible...Michael and I shuddered to think how much the parents had had to sink into them, because each kid was in three or more numbers, each requiring a different costume. 

The performance included a pretty full-scale production of Cinderella. The weird sisters were hilarious, and included one of Eleanor's former classmates. That was really another element of the fun: as each set of dancers came on, Ashley and I (mostly Ashley) would recognize cast members. 

Apart from Cinderella, there was a precious choreography to "Singing in the Rain" where the itty-bitties pranced around in lilac raincoats and white frilly umbrellas with polka dots. WAY cute.

The performances included ballet, contemporary, jazz, and hip-hop. We were all amazed and how HUGE the school is and how many performers there were.

I left around 11 or so with Jeremy, while the rest of the gang stayed for the remainder of the performance. On my way home, I marveled at how nice it was to be able to go to the performance on a whim, and then split up if necessary.

Love,

Alexandra