Coppelia

When we first moved to Oceanside, we decided to take a break from our activities for a couple of months to ease into the area. We eventually picked up piano, swimming lessons, soccer for Aaron, and Brynn kept asking when she would be able to start ballet again. I did some research about different ballet schools in the area and then asked a long time friend and ballet dancer, Polly Creer if she had any connections to the area. She happened to have a friend in Northern San Diego County who gave her the recommendation of San Elijo Dance and Music Academy. I was a little wary about trying out the school because it is a 15 mile/ 35 minute drive from our house, but she told me about the professional background of the directors and I called and visited the school. I was very impressed during my conversations with the directors and with my visits to the school. When I learned that they don't have performances or rehearsals on Sundays I was sold! Every other dance studio in the area does their recitals on Sunday. I am so grateful that San Elijo doesn't! It has been a huge blessing not to have to deal with that.

Abby wasn't thrilled about starting, but I made her try atleast one day of a lyrical ballet class and she LOVED it! (Her experience with ballet in Davis wasn't as positive as Brynn's.) We started out doing a ballet class and a lyrical class and the girls were really excited about that. After Brynn's first class they invited her to be part of their Conservatory program. I was a little nervous because of the time commitment it required, but we decided to give it a try. It has been excellent, but too much time was spent in the car. Brynn was in ballet for almost 6 hours a week. Couple that with the drive there and back and it was just too overwhelming...for all of us. I pulled her out completely because I didn't want her to experience burnout and the director came to me and told me she would modify Brynn's schedule so that she could still participate. We agreed to do that, she still has lots of dancing to do, but now we go on 2 days of the week instead of 4.

Brynn's class had a Fall showcase where they performed an excerpt from the Coppelia ballet. It was beautiful! Both girls performed in the Nutcracker as well. It basically took over our life for the month of November and December, but it was lots of fun and we survived. We're still trying to figure out the extra-curricular activity thing. As in, okay where are we going with this? I'm happy about the things they are learning and the responsibility and accountability to remember your part and props and such, but sometimes I feel like other worthy things like piano, etc. get pushed to the side because the actual "lesson" isn't as often. Yet, when I think of it, I would much rather have them be excellent pianists than dancers because of the opportunity to serve in church. Anyway, still thinking these things all through...