C came out of class with a shining pin clipped on her chest. She received her certificate for the Grade 5 ballet examination that she took in April earlier in the year.  :)

I asked if she was happy and she said she had worked hard for it and so she was. I am more pleased that she persevered; the double and some times even triple weekly sessions. It wasn't just her- it was getting back from work on time to take her for her classes in the evenings. It was also the sacrifice of some weekends for her practice. And for C, the late nights. Monday evenings were awful as it would be 10 pm when we got home. Did she complain, of course she did but each time she did, she also added that she knew she was working for something she wanted. She had wanted to put dance on hold as school work was getting more intense but each time, she pressed on.

Attending such enrichment classes is tiring and time-consuming but it also builds character in C and as long as she enjoys doing what she does, we will also press on.  

The examination happened in April and the wait for the results was over at last when C returned with her certificate. :)

On our way back home, C was all silent and even though we had praised complimented her on a job well done, she wasn't at all pleased with what she had achieved. She loves to dance and she must have felt she had let herself and all of us down. We reminded her that her dancing was not about certificates and grades but rather about her passion and love for the dance. Well, there is always another examination to conquer so she shouldn't be so hard on herself. :)

It was an important day for C; she took her Grade 2 ballet examination this afternoon.

C practised really hard for this examination and for more than 6 months, she was going for dance class twice a week. Ms Blue insisted that the girls under her charge attend the extra coaching class. Then about a month before the examination itself, her students had to go for rehearsals on top of the regular class so to say that C was exhausted was an understatement.

But we could tell that she was passionate about her ballet because she would prance around whenever and wherever she had the opportunity. She would use the space in our living room to practise her steps, she would even do it while taking her shower. 

And this afternoon, all her hard work was put to the test as she entered the examination room. 

Our Precious, all dressed and ready. 

Daddy took the day off, like he in previous years and it was him who accompanied her the whole time. "Thank you, Daddy."

Princess all dressed for Racial Harmony Day 2012 celebrations in school.

I bought this set of clothes 2 years back as I know that she will definitely have to wear ethnic clothes for such celebrations in school. Precious did an Indian dance in school and was awarded a badge for her good dancing. There were a total of 7 in her class who were given this badge. :)

Earlier part of the year, C took her Grade 1 ballet examination. Ms Blue told us that results would only be out in July.

We weren't expecting the certificates to be distributed to the girls this evening so we were kind of excited when the earlier batch of girls were released from class with theirs. Daddy and I were wondering how C did for her examination.

C achieved the Merit award. We were alright, though C said she wanted a distinction. That was when we told her that she had to work triply hard. :)

C has been practising very hard for this performance. She practised her dance routine even when she was in the bathroom and even she could, we could hear her chanting away, "1,2,3,4..." She clearly loved what she was doing and dancing to.

 C with her classmates just before she had to assemble.

These pictures were taken during the full dress rehearsal, taken by professional photographers.

We were very impressed with all the children. They took us through the ages with the different dance routines: from the Minuet of the French Courts, the silent movies times of Charlie Chaplin, right up to the early 1990s. There were contemporary dances too like Korean and Japan pop!

When C was in her costume, we hadn't the slightest clue what kind of dance she would do and our guesses were "cowboy" or some country music related ones. But...


We never expected this! :)

C has been dancing for close to 2 years now. I still remember the time when she was turning 3 and she had wanted to do ballet and of course, I can vividly recall spending hours on the phone, calling many schools and trying to enrol C for a trial session.

This evening, C returned with a note from Ms Blue. We know that C has a dance coming up but were wondering when it was going to take place. Ms Blue added that she was going to brief us about having the children take up examinations if they were seriously going to do ballet.

I checked with C to see and asked if she truly wanted to dance and she gave a resounding "Yes". So we will be looking forward to meeting the girls and Ms Blue. :)

This video clip is so long overdue. It's Cheryl's dance routine for Josiah's Graduation Concert 2009 and it took me so long to upload the video because we only just received it 2 days ago.

Nevertheless, we are just glad her performance was captured on film. :)

The 4 seasons of Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter were grandly and elaborately transformed into various dance routines. C's was all dressed in orange and doing a fitness dance for Summer. Yeah, we remember her commenting that like Lola, her favourite character, she also danced for Autumn. :)

It will be Cheryl's Annual Concert tomorrow and she was expected to arrive in school all dressed and dolled up.

Later in the day, her teachers would be taking her to Victoria Concert Hall where the concert would be held for the final rehearsal. Ms May instructed that C should come with full make up. Anyways, our Precious was thrilled that she was putting on make up for the first time in her life.

 

Daddy and I were giggling when we saw her costume but agreed that it was very well done to suit the dance item she was going to perform. We can't wait for the Concert tomorrow!

Daddy and I both took some time off to attend our Precious' concert at Josiah.

She was elated when she found out that we would be taking her to school and even asked Daddy twice if it was true.

In the morning, getting her ready for school was effortless and she cooperated when I told her she needed to wash up and get dressed. Outside her school, she saw her best friends and were playing Catch. I had such a tough time getting the girls to pose for their pictures.

After we had dropped her, we went for a cuppa while her teachers in school get her ready.

We returned to Josiah shortly...

and the performance started.

Cheryl was clearly enjoying herself and grooving to the music. She was really dancing to her heart's content.

The entire cohort at Josiah East Point. The children were brilliant, especially the kids from the K1 and K2 batch and they looked very bit like professional dancers: confident!

We were so proud of her and immensely glad we didn't miss this. :)

Great job, Cheryl Darling!

It's Wednesday and it's Ballet Day!

Cheryl carrying her gear in the very pretty bag that Aunt Di got her. 

She loves Ms Blue and was talking about Ms Blue and what Ms Blue had taught her and all.

C had dance this evening and she was all geared up for it. She woke up from her nap without a fuss and had her dinner quickly.

Once we got out of the train station, she immediately insisted on having her picture taken.

When her class started, Ms Blue told me to change her into her ballerina get-ups. I was pleasantly surprised because the previous time we were there, it didn't seem like Ms Blue had taken C's measurement so naturally we weren't expecting this.

Cheryl was totally transformed into this really sweet girl after she donned the dress and leotard. I didn't manage to take any videos this time as she was standing at the other side of the dance studio and was rarely in sight except for a few seconds.

When Daddy saw her, he exclaimed, "Cheryl, the piglet!" as she was all pink.

After scouting around and making numerous phone calls to different dance studio, I finally received a call from Ms Blue and she told me that she has a vacancy for Cheryl *thanks to Aunt Evon who introduced the teacher to me*. I was overjoyed and when I broke the news to C, she wanted to go for dance immediately.

So the long awaited date arrived and we trotted off for dance in the evening. C was asking me all sorts of questions and she was already skipping and hopping along the way. C had this habit of wanting us to carry her mid way and she would complain of leg cramps and all. So I told her if she would to complain while we walked to the train station, we would turn around and head back because she obviously couldn't dance with aching legs and feet. That did the trick and she happily walked.

On our way to dance!

We were early and there was a class already in session so we waited outside. C was posing and prancing around and everyone around us were laughing at her little childish antics.

Cheryl peeping at the little ballerinas in the class. Yes, this was also how I took the video *totally unglamorous, I know* as parents were not allowed in the class.

I must say, it sure didn't look like C was attending class for the first time. She adjusted fine and was following instructions, much to my delight. It seems like she has found something she likes to do! and it took me so long before I got her into dance class because I didn't think her interest would last. *sorry darling*

I had texted Daddy earlier and he wanted to catch his little girl in action so he knocked off earlier and came down.

Our Precious wants to do ballet. In fact, she has been bugging us for the longest time and I have been putting it off because we do not want to pack her weekends; the only time we have with her with extra activities. As it is, she already attends music on Saturday mornings.

I have been trying to get her enrolled into Nafa Kindergarten because they incorporate both music and ballet classes in their curriculum and that means she will be able to do both during her time in school on weekdays. But unfortunately, Nafa is full and they do not look like they are admitting new pupils any time soon.

So here I am, trying to look for a class to fit into our schedule.

I went to Studio Wu but their classes start at 10 and it's too rush for us as C has music at 11am.

Then there was Crestar. Location wise, this is ideal as it is where C has her music lesson but classes start at 2pm, which happens to be C's nap time.

And then there is FORMS at Bukit Timah Plaza. Classes will start at 1pm.

Has any mummies sent their darling daughters to this school? I would appreciate any feedback! :)