After many months of intensive training, C was finally taking her Grade 3 examinations. It wasn't only the weekly practice sessions, there were extra classes that she had to attend and when the date drew nearer, rehearsals to go for too. 

 Ms Blue wanted all her students to arrive 1.5 hours earlier so that she could do their hair and it has become a routine for C. She told me that this last hour with Ms Blue was always very nice because Ms Blue would be talking to them and even telling them a joke or two. She said she was appreciative that Ms Blue and her helpers took the time and effort to do up their hair neatly and she always looked so pretty after that.

 Ms Blue giving the group some advice and talk one final time before they went in for their examination. Though what started out as a pure enrichment for C, she has grown to love ballet and more importantly, love her sessions with Ms Blue, who is an extremely dedicated teacher to her craft. It was heartening indeed to see how C endured the numerous training sessions, often returning from class tired and even occasionally complaining that her legs ache. Yet despite all that, she knew that she wants to continue to dance and be with Ms Blue.

Then after her exam, Daddy took her to her favourite joint, THW for a well-deserved meal of dim sum. :)

Ms Blue will always have an Open House for parents when the ballet examinations are around the corner simply to update us on what has been going on in class and also to share some important information.

This evening, we had a glimpse of what C and her friends in class have been training for.

She loves to dance and she has told us repeatedly that she wants to continue doing this. :)



Grade 3 from Natalie Lian on Vimeo.

This is just one of the dance routine she needs to do.

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."

We brought C for the coaching class this evening. The ballet examination is coming up and it is usual practice for Ms Blue to conduct extra classes for her students. At the door, Ms Blue handed me a disc:

She said C isn't as flexible as she would like her to be but she ended with a smile and a comforting word that C has been trying her best in class. Ms Blue then added that the contents of the disc would help in C's preparation for the examination. We thought it was a very sweet gesture.

It has always been Mummy's territory when it comes to hair-tying but this morning, Daddy did his first bun for Precious.

You see, C has started on her extra coaching class for ballet. Ms Blue emphasized that because C would need to execute certain moves sharply, it was important that her hair did not get in the way. Hence, the need for the bun. On Monday evenings, I would be able to do her hair but it was Tuesday mornings that Daddy was worried about. 

When he learned that C needed her hair up in this manner, he was stressed out. To help him out, we bought some hair clips. Now, Daddy is the one who ties C's hair every morning before she goes to school but with C's ballet class on Tuesday mornings, her hairdo will have to stay on and neat from 9am to 6.30pm. 

Daddy had a practice round on Sunday and this morning, he did it! Pretty good, I would say, for a first-timer. 

When Ms Blue calls for an Open House for her ballet classes, it means we get an update on what has been going on in class and she will also be letting us know of the hard work in store for our children. The children showed us the dance routines and Ms Blue also informed us of the new changes in the syllabus.

Ms Blue showed us some moves too and she kept stressing that the dance steps are more difficult with the new syllabus. She needed us to see that for the children to be able to master the steps, they would need to practise more.

Quad dance from Natalie Lian on Vimeo.

Ms Blue choreographed this dance for the examination. She remarked that all the routines for the examinations are more performance base than training. C isn't really good at this routine yet.

Hide and Seek from Natalie Lian on Vimeo.

This is definitely one of C's favourite. We could tell that she was enjoying herself too.

The coaching class for the examination will start some time in mid October and it will be in the mornings before C goes to school. We can foresee tired days ahead but the good thing is, it's a month away from the year-end holidays so tired as she may be, she only needs to hang on for a month.

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. :)

For more than 6 months, Precious went for extra coaching classes and a month before her examination, there were dance class thrice a week. There were days where Precious would tell me she was tired and then there were also days where she would be jumping for joy just knowing that she would be going for her dance class.

Today, she takes her Grade 1 examination.

Daddy took time off from work to see her there. They arrived 2 hours before and Ms Blue and her friends got down to doing their hair.

Wow! Her hair was so nicely done  up. No wonder Ms Blue stressed that the girls should come with their hair down. She commented that when she was a young girl, her teacher did the same and it became a tradition she wants to carry on. :)

Our Precious

Ms Blue, checking on the girls and giving the girls some instructions.

Precious with members in her team. When I saw the picture for the first time, I almost didn't recognise Precious. She looked so different: grown definitely and very pretty. :)

Then at 10 am, they stepped into the examination room. 

"Go, Baby! Give your best. Daddy will be waiting for you to finish your routine."

C's ballet exam is coming up in April and she has been attending extra class for close to 6 months now. It is always a mad rush to get her to class during the week days because she would only alight from her ride from school at 7.30pm. Then Daddy and I would whisk her off to her class, with C changing into her ballet gear in the car and then chomping down a slice of bread.

This evening, I brought her to her class and caught her in action.






She seems good. :) Ms Blue is an exceptional teacher: she is dedicated and C who has been with her since she was 3 years old has developed a love for ballet. :)

Some time in March, Precious took her ballet exam. Though one of the youngest girls in her class, Ms Blue, her teacher, felt that C was ready.



She didn't disappoint us and received a merit award for her effort. Precious was extremely happy when she received her shiny medal and certificate. Ms Blue even pinned the medal on her leotard.

However, when she spoke to us about it after class, she expressed her disappointment that she didn't get the distinction award. Daddy and I immediately affirmed her effort and said that as long as she did her best, she should be proud of herself because we definitely were.

Noticed anything different about the girls here?

Yes, they are without their little tutus. Now that C has cleared her examination, she is officially in Grade 1. 

And here I am, waiting for her class to end. Each session now is an hour long and while waiting, I try to catch up on some reading, marking and blogging. Her class now is also an hour later; this I realized when I brought C for her class at 6. Ms Blue gently reminded me that she made known this information during the last Open House yet it slipped my mind. I have been preoccupied these days... .