Do you want her autograph?
With her performance as an Angel in The Nutcracker, Skyler is now officially a star [but she's always been a star to us]. She has a real theater credit to add to her resume. You know, if a normal eight year old had a resume.
Skyler spent the entire day cool as a cucumber. I, on the other hand, was a complete basket case. I was especially worried about her hair. How was I going to hide that little mishap from last weekend? The answer was lots and lots and lots of gel, hairspray and finally some pomade. Oh and a whole pile of bobby pins.
Skyler had dress rehearsal beginning at 1pm with a dinner break from 5:30 to 6:30pm. The performance was at 7:30. And didn’t end until around 9pm. So her hair had to stay in that bun for at least eight hours. And the hair smack dab in the center of her forehead that she cut last weekend, had to stay down for over eight hours. But we worked it out.
Parents weren’t allowed in the theater during rehearsal. They are very secretive during rehearsal. I’m guessing that’s because if we take our own pictures we likely won’t spend the ridiculous amount of money to pay for the pictures the dance company took. So Lee dropped her off and came back home.
I hadn’t seen The Nutcracker ballet since I was in elementary school. I pretty much remembered the story, but I couldn’t remember exactly when the angels came out. So I sat on pins and needles the whole first half. But there were no angels.
Then right after intermission the angels came on stage. They wore white robes with a big halo around their buns. Skyler was holding a phoenix and I think it kind of threw her off a litle. She had never practiced with anything in her hand. But she didn’t let it bother her too much. She danced every step just like they’d practiced. I was so proud of her.
The angels came out for their second dance right at the end of the show, for the final dance. Skyler worked every step flawlessly with a huge smile on her face the whole time. It was like she’d been in several big performances before rather than a total newbie.
Skyler had a whole crowd to support her. My dad came from Wisconsin. My mom came from Chicago. My grandma was there. As were my aunt and uncle. Plus her dance teacher was at the show to cheer her on.
Lee and I stopped to get her four pink roses before the show. My aunt and my grandma got her flowers and a small bear. And her dance teacher brought a rose for her too. Skyler was so excited when she saw all her flowers. She was beaming with excitement from the show and happiness to see everybody there to support her.
This was quite an experience. I’m so glad she talked me in to taking her to the audition. It was so much fun watching her dance across that stage. And she had such a good time.
Some day she’ll be able to take her kids to see The Nutcracker and tell them all about when she was an angel.
