Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Misguided Direction.

While leaving the studio after registering both girls for dance (oh my head, Caroline's a Lee School of Dance student now!) I reminded Libbey of the 10 years I took ballet, tap, and jazz lessons. Once I got to junior high and became a cheerleader, dancing took a back seat to burgeoning popularity (or so the Sweet Valley High books promised!), pep rallies, and wearing my uniform to school at least once per week. It was one less outfit to stress over. And we all know how important the look is to a thirteen year old, particularly in 1987.

I ceased my lessons at The Academy of Dance, traded in my pointe shoes for pom-poms, leotards for bloomers, the stage for the stadium, and never looked back.

And then tonight I saw this:

I now want to take this moment to thank my parents, Sonny & Pinky, for allowing me to place emphasis on my toe-touches and vocal projection, rather than pirouettes and flap ball changes.

I'll never dance to Leona Lewis with a male partner or shake my groove thang on national television. No get down girl, go 'head, get downing for me. No chance of ever performing with a Cirque du Soleil tour, becoming a Rockette, or even a Vegas showgirl--ostrich plumes, rhinestones, and 4 pounds of make-up, i.e. my dream costume!

Thanks, Mama and Daddy. Look how far cheerleading got me.

Libbey and Caroline...you will take dance lessons 'til you die. The End.

*Of course y'all realize I'm kidding. Right?
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Back-to-school giveaway winner announced tomorrow!

43 comments:

Dawn said...

I wish I had kept dancing as I got older! Don't ever let them quit! ha ha!

CaraBee said...

I watched this three times. Wow. I took exactly one ballet class. I've always wished I would have stuck with it.

Amy said...

Yes, if our children can't live out our dreams then I ask you, what is their purpose? : )

Heather said...

I got fired from ballet class when I was seven 'cause I couldn't put my leg over my head. Guess I wasn't flexible enough for Miss Robin. Never tried again.

Nik said...

LOL!! Those poor girls will be 80 and still dancing. My neice does a lot of dancing and competitions but she also does cheer. I think she likes dancing more so thankfully she'll stay in it.

Having boys though and going to the dance studio with her, WOW it's a different world...hang on girl, you're getting on for a wild ride!

Heather said...

Am I weird that I think that guy is hot? I only catch that show every so often, but I would look at him and think "is he or isn't he??"

I think he might be kind hot. He sure can dance and I like that.

He's no Mr. Pattinson (I'm trying).

Caroline said...

That was my favorite dance from this season! Love IT!!!!! Makes me wish I had danced, but I think my body would have rebelled. I really excelled in music, so I'm good. I get my dancing out with the redhead. Just keep your perky little toes up Lula, hopefully your girls will make the show in like 2018!

Michelle said...

I agree with Amy and Heather K. are you pullin' our leg, I don't remember that!

Pinky Roth said...

I tried to keep you in dancing, but you did not want to keep going...what's a mother to do???

Mom

Lauren W said...

You know, I never did take dance. I think I took a couple months of tap when I was a kid, but I was a gymnast purist and did not dance. Actually, I take that back, in high school, I took a semester of ballet. I think I would've liked it except for the fact that I had chunky toddler legs in those pink tights. Apparently gymnast build is not the same as ballerina build. Who knew?

Shelley said...

Wow, I have always been the bull in the china shop girl. Never had dance lessons. We were so poor coming up that I'm not sure my folks would have "wasted" money on something like dance lessons.
But I love to watch me some dancing.

Unknown said...

Ahhh... the joys of blog-reading from work... I can't see it... so it makes the whole post a little.. odd :)

BUT

AGAIN - we have so much in common - I did tap, jazz and a smidge of ballet for 10 years, until.. well.. I just didn't want to anymore!!!

Live.Love.Eat said...

Wow, that was pretty cool. I will enjoy it more tonight when I can turn up the volume. Turn up the volume, turn up the volume, base base. know that one?

Driftwood and Pumpkin said...

i was a cheerleader too and it didn't get me very far either! Push dancing...they don't grow up to be slutty NFL porn stars (sorry for interjecting my dismay at the state of the NFL cheerleaders) here on you blog. i just couldn't help myself.

thotlady said...

Love the video. Amazing dancing. Love that routine.

Did I say love enough?

Melissa said...

That. Was. Hot.

I love how they get all into it, like they are really in love and all.

I took dance and baton when I was younger and I miss it. I really would love for my girls to get into that, but cha ching? Helllerrr??? I've watched those pageant documentaries and those moms gettin' all obsessive about their little Junie dancing to Superfreak or whatever that was. Did you see Little Miss Sunshine? Bad, bad, but a little funny at the end.

Aunt Julie said...

Both College Girl and The Wild One were ballerinas when they were younger. CG went the farthest, and quit after a couple of years en pointe, 'cause her toes were getting all nasty and they hurt all the time. Loved the video, gal! Ellen? I'm still workin' on it! Thanks for the Pop'rs mention--I commented on your Chaos Post of yesterday. BTW, thanks so much for dropping by to learn about the Wonders of Wisconsin! Isn't BATW great?

Vicki said...

It looks like they're weirdly robot fighting with each other. Girl, be glad you don't dance like that.

I didn't take dance until I was older. Tap and modern in college (it was actually considered PE) and then tap and jazz once married. Imagine a pregnant woman tapping. Yep.

Du and I took Swing in Germany. It was so much fun, and we still love dancing with each other at balls. Can't say we look like the charming couple in that video though :)

emily freeman said...

Preach it, girl. That was one of my favorites from this season, too. And yes Heather, that guy is kind of hot, even though he has a strangely misshapen pinky finger. I can get past that.

scargosun said...

I danced 1-8 grades and wish I could have continued to this day. I need to drag P to dance lessons to get my fix or something.

Heather said...

See...Emily would have to point out the misshapen pinky finger. Now I'm tainted.

Gina said...

Hloy Heckies, Lula! I hate HipHop- but that- that gave me goosebumps. I'm gonna have a post along this vein tomorrow, so come on over.

sassy stephanie said...

I was more into tennis and volleyball (yes, me in all my 5'2" glory).

Hey...tell your husband I saw on Hungry Girl that today is National Eat a Peach day. You can thank me tomorrow.

Brandy said...

I didn't watch the whole season this go round so I missed that performance.

Wow. It was so good. It amazes me that people can look so natural dancing like that. Me, not so much.

TentCamper said...

I can TOTALLY do that!!!!

Just not with a full bladder...wich I usually have.

Trish said...

you all don't know this, but I taught them everythign they know.

Okay, not really.

I.DON"T.DANCE.

EVER

Soccer, softball, voleyball......those are my thing.

Trish said...

you all don't know this, but I taught them everythign they know.

Okay, not really.

I.DON"T.DANCE.

EVER

Soccer, softball, voleyball......those are my thing.

Ashley said...

Sweet Valley High is - oops! i mean was - the best! ;)

Anonymous said...

My girls took one year of dance each. They both hated it and didn't want to go back. Amie did take fiddle lessons for 4 years and can play the fiddle. Kristi took piano maybe a year and would rather play sports, so that is what we did!

Heather W said...

"So You Think You Can Dance" is a big deal in our house. No one is allowed to talk or make changes to my DVR setting while the season is in session. I am serious about it and make no mistake I live through everyone of the top 20 dancers. I cry and clap and give standing ovations to great performances. I also while watch a great performance over and over again. I am a little more critical than I should be considering I can't touch my toes but surprisingly I am usually right on the money. I love it with all my being and can't wait for next year. I too wish I had stuck with dance and been able to be as talented as the kids on the show. Too bad for my kids, since they now do not get a choice!!!! (I too am kidding, a little)

Unknown said...

That's it. It's settled. We are way too much alike to not be friend. I too danced for not 10, but 11 years. I wanted to be a ballerina with the New York City Ballet, until the ever-popular career choice of cheerleading came along. That decision got me so far. I, too, wish I would have stuck with the dancing. Oh, well ... how would I have met my husband, being that I would have been a star and all.

BTW, I'm adding you to my blogroll. I know you're so honored, but I'm tired of getting to your site via your comments. You are officially one of my new BFFs. Thanks Drama Mama for introducing me.

AFRo said...

That was seriously scary. She looked like a psychopath on drugs.

Unknown said...

Oh WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You know who is amazing? The choreographer... that's some powerful stuff...

hopefully once I'm more financially stable I can get the girls in dance.

Keys to the Magic Travel said...

I don't dance. I have absolutely no sense of rhythm. Where Katie gets her musical talent - I have no idea. I mean, I can't even do an aerobics class or video. I can never figure out exactly what they are doing. And when I might figure it out, they have surely moved on.

Keys to the Magic Travel said...

I don't dance. I have absolutely no sense of rhythm. Where Katie gets her musical talent - I have no idea. I mean, I can't even do an aerobics class or video. I can never figure out exactly what they are doing. And when I might figure it out, they have surely moved on.

Marrdy said...

I never took dance...too many kis, not enough money. But I was a cheerleader. Some of the best memories of my life!

CaraBee said...

Hey lady, I gave you an award!

Tiffany said...

Sweet Valley High. You are my soul sister. Please tell me you loved Flowers in the Attic... did we already talk about this?

Ronnica said...

I LOVE that dance. It's my favorite of the season. I'm glad it's only like 2 minutes long, because I've probably seen it 40 times.

Anonymous said...

Oh, I loved that dance, it still gets me....

Anyway, I was enrolled in dance for 10 years simply to try and get some grace to beat out the klutz gene. It didn't work...

And I still have dance parties with my 2 year old boy. I have so far taught him to do the run and leap, happy feet, spin and jump and the all time - hands on the girl's hip so you can slow dance. Yep - scarred for life!

Angie's Spot said...

I wish I would've continued dancing, gymnastics and twirling for more than the 3 years that I did it. Maybe then I could've made the jr. high cheerleading squad and not moped around for 6 years wondering what I was missing out on. However, my 2 left feet and horrible hand-eye coordination are probably what held up my progress more than anything. I can only hope that my 2 girls don't inherit my lack of rhythm. LOL!

nikkicrumpet said...

I've been snooping through your blog and I must say your are pretty dang funny! I love your writing style and you sure know how to tell a story. This one REALLY made me laugh. And don't you just love love love that show!

Breanne said...

I don't (can't) dance but I love people who can. My daughter just started taking dance and loves it but at 2 it is more chaos than dance.