YOU ARE AMAZING!

"Ate, you are amazing!"

This was Ina's reaction upon learning that her Ate Fran has been accelerated in her ballet class. A year after starting ballet together, Ina is now in yellow class while her Ate is in lavender, or two levels higher than yellow.

Not only that. Her Ate Fran is one of those chosen to take the Australian ballet examinations in April, an opportunity that is given to a select few.

I was really worried about how Ina would take the news. Would she be depressed? Would she be envious? With a mere two-year gap between her and Fran, it's not uncommon for Ina to compare herself, her abilities, her accomplishments with that of her Ate's. That Fran has this not so nice habit of telling Ina that she's better in Math, in writing, in drawing, oh the list goes on, does not help (we're working on this). I, as the mom/referee, usually end up telling Ina that Ate is better at some things because she's two years older.

"Wait until you turn 8," I told her.

To which Fran has this ready reply, "But when you're 8, I'll be 10!" Hay.

But it turned out that I need not worry. Ina, my lovely little girl, has shown maturity beyond her years. She was not only happy for her Ate, she was actually proud of her! She reasoned out that she would probably be in lavender class when she turns 8. But for now, she's happy that she's been promoted to the yellow class.

Besides, she may not be a good ballet dancer. At least not yet. But she is one terrific storyteller.

Thank you Ina for teaching me a valuable lesson. Thank you for reminding me that there is such a thing as finding joy in somebody else's happiness.

You are truly amazing.

Kung fu snake-style?

THE PROMISE

My first daughter started dancing ballet last year at the age of 7. I guess that's a little late. But at age 4, she was more interested in swimming.

F may have started late but she's dancing as if she's trying to make up for lost time. I've never seen her this passionate, this intense, this serious. Ballet simply brings out the best in her.

And so a year after starting ballet, she had her first recital.

F as a sprite.

That's her on the right side.

Doesn't she look good?

The Hawaiian number was such a big hit! F is 3rd from left.
My 2nd daughter is in front of her.

F is on the left.

F and I are in the front row.

With her superb ballet teachers and schoolmates.

Last Saturday, her teacher happily informed me that F will be accelerated from pink to lavender* class and that she is one of the few students who will take the Australian Conservatoire of Ballet (ACB) examinations slated in April next year. She emphasized that not all students are given this opportunity. She also suggested that F take extra ballet lessons.

Now, F is already taking street dancing classes on top of her regular ballet classes. I don't want to pressure her so I left the decision to her. Her decision? Yes, yes, yes.

As I looked at the older girls who probably have been doing ballet since they were 5, I saw the promise of what she, with hard work and dedication, could become.

For now, I would hold on to that promise.


*I never did ballet. But as far as I know, the beginning classes' uniforms in her school are pink, yellow, red, then lavender.
*My second daughter is in yellow class starting this month. Here is my post on her reaction when she learned that her Ate would already be in lavender class.

A DAD TO WOULD-BE BALLERINAS

Being a Dad to two would-be ballerinas is tough, as my husband has recently learned.  He not only has to wake up early on Saturdays, he also has to start learning the language. 

This is an account of some of his experiences (yes, published without his permission but no, he wouldn't dare sue me) which earned a lot of guffaws.

While Ina, our 5-year old, was getting dressed for her ballet class, Ina blurted out, "But Dad, you forgot my tutu!"  My poor husband, with his face clearly showing his bewilderment, asked me, "What's a tutu?"

After the girls' first class in their new ballet school, my husband commented that he likes this new school better.  And what did he say exactly?  "You know Babe, I like this new school more than Katrina Halili's School of Ballet.  For one, there are fewer students in a class."  You guess it right, I could hardly breathe because I was too busy laughing.  Hanggang sa ballet, si Katrina Halili ang naiisip.

Ballet started in France and this is the reason why ballet terms are in French.  Since the girls wanted to practice some of the ballet steps they learned, my husband, proud to have remembered a new ballet term, said, "Ok, why don't you show me 'salta'?" "What do you mean," Fran asked him.  "Jump," he answered.  Uh, uh, that's not salta.  That's 'saute'.  And I couldn't resist adding that "salta" was used by Dora the Explorer.  And no, it's not French.

But what the heck.  He may not know the terms.  He may not know the correct name of the school.  But he's always there to say, "Good job, girls," after every ballet class. 

And that is more than good enough for Fran and Ina.

Fran

Ina