LITTLE DANCER, BIG DREAM By: Maya Sugie
Leotard, Dance Shoes, and Techniques Dancers are always responsible for having what they need for class: leotard, dance shoes, and techniques. Look what I have on!, she proudly pointed her toes and showed me the leg warmers she had on. That looks cute on you, I said, and she replied Why do you not have one on? Then she continued on with a smile. Are you jealous? After a moment I answered, Yes, I am VERY jealous.
I think mine is the prettiest She thinks that she is the best one in her class. Her mother said with a smile and continued. Every time she has class, she looks at everyone s leotard to see if it is prettier than hers. After I heard that from her mom, I asked her if she thinks anyone else s leotard is pretty. I think that pink one that she has on is pretty, but I think mine is the prettiest., she said with a smile like a sunshine.
Nose to Your Knees Girls, take your nose to your knees! As the teacher said, she stretched as far as she could go. The other girls took their nose to their knees too, and it formed a circle of ballerinas. I can stretch farther than the other girls!, she proudly bragged and stretched about an inch farther than everyone else. As her nose touched her knees, I saw from another angle that her face turned into a beautiful smile.
Ways to Keep Dancers Focused There is something on the table, what is it?, What is your favorite princess story?, the teacher asks for a response from each students, and they all get to talk at least once, going clockwise in a circle. All teachers try to keep the dancers focused in some way, and for her teacher, this is the way. I love my dance class because I get to talk with my friends., she says. I think it is no fun stretching without talking! When it was her turn to answer, she smiled and said, My favorite is Cinderella!
Flexibility = How Much You Love to Dance She spread her legs as far as she could, farther than anyone in the room. Wow, I did not know that she was that flexible. Her mother was amazed at how her daughter could spread her leg that far, and how she has grown so fast as a dancer. Look at you, you are flexible than me!, I said and she replied, That is because I like to dance more than you do!. She gave me a shiny smile, and continued stretching.
Dancing makes me feel older Come on, girls! After stretching, the girls were called to one side of the room to go across the floor. She says that her favorite thing to do across the floor is ballet walks. She opened her arms as wide as it could go, and slowly started walking in a straight line. The last time I saw her, she was walking like an awkward monkey., her mother says. But now, I think she looks a lot like a ballerina.
I get worried sometimes I get worried sometimes because I might forget the combinations., she says. She understands that as a dancer, it is important to be able to remember what comes after what. She said she is worried that she is going to forget what comes after the step she was doing, and mess up on the stage on the day of the recital. I think I need to practice remembering things so I will not mess up in the recital.
Look at Me! Hey, watch this! She said as she waved at me to get my attention. Then she raised her leg up to about an angle of 45 degrees, and smiled as if she was Clara in The Nutcracker, or if she was the swan from The Swan Lake. Beautiful! Her mother and I quietly said as the teacher called them to the corner of the room. She loves when everyone watches her dance., her mother says. She always likes to get attention, and she loves to do things in front of people. As soon as I heard that, I understood why look at me! was her favorite word to say.
I want to be the best. I noticed that every time there is a combination whether it would be on the floor or across the room, she always looks at the person next to her. I want to be the best, although I already am., she continued on. I think I look like a real ballerina compared to everyone else., she smiled and told me. Even though she is a little dancer who is three years old, she can be competitive sometimes. Her mother even says she is competitive, unlike her older sister.
This is Why I Dance. Do not move until I tell you to. The girls waited patiently like puppies those are waiting for the treat. They remained quiet as the teacher spread the beautiful costumes everywhere in the room. You may quietly, without hurting each other, choose a costume and put it on. Just as they were told, the girls picked out their own costumes and put it on. She chose the purple and pink dress with laces on them. Purple is my favorite color., she said as she smiled and twirled around in a circle. She notified me that this is her favorite time of her dance class. This is why she dances, and she proudly told that her dream for now is to dance on stage with her own beautiful costumes on.