We celebrated Hannah Kate's 10-year dance recital Mother's Day weekend. And what a recital it was! It'd been two years since she took the big stage, and she was beyond excited. All the dancers were! Last year's virtual recital was definitely a memory we'll never forget, but there's just nothing like the stage! She was in both recitals this year so we arrived at the theater just before noon and didn't roll out until 9:30 that night. But it was such a fun, special day.
My parents came for the weekend and saw Hannah Kate on the big stage in person for the first time (usually they watch the videos I record at the rehearsal). Abbie came over for brunch and then they did Hannah Kate's makeup. They were both invited to dance in the opening number so it was Abbie's last recital, but they got to dance together for the very first time.
Hannah Kate danced the opening number and her 10-year solo in both recitals. Needless to say, I wore water-proof mascara. I took this video at the rehearsal. Her bun was falling by the time we got to this dance, and I didn't have a great angle. But you get the point.
She also danced one of her ballets, Swan Lake, in the 1:00 show. This costume and Abbie's ballet costume looked so good together.
Abbie danced her senior solo, and some of her family were able to join her on stage. We took this backstage just before she went out.
After the first recital, a couple of the other moms and I walked a couple of blocks to pick up some food for our dancers. We sat outside and ate together and then Seth arrived with my parents (we weren't able to get enough tickets for them to attend the 1:00 recital so Mason was MORE THAN PLEASED to stay at home with them until the 6:00 show). Ignore my shoes, as I borrowed one of Hannah Kate's friend's shoes since we had to make a couple of blocks.
It was my sweet friend's little girls' first time on the big stage this year so, of course, we had to get flowers for them.
In addition to the opening number and her solo, Hannah Kate danced "Romeo and Juliet" (lyrical), "The Nutcracker" (ballet) and "Pitch Perfect" (jazz). Our favorite dance was Abbie's "Hamilton" (jazz). It was quite impressive. Needless to say, I'm ready to go back to NYC and see a Broadway show! Hannah Kate's jazz performance closed out the recital, and it was rather impressive, too. The costume looked fantastic on stage. I wish I had a pic of her in it, but it was such a quick change that no one was able to get a picture. But you can peep some of her costumes behind her.
I have so few pics from the day because I mostly stayed in the audience and watched. I have to admit it is a game changer when your dancer is old enough to manage all of her costume changes on her own and doesn't need (or want) your help anymore! But we did get a pic in Abbie's jazz and Hannah Kate's ballet costume.
We surprised her with an ad in the recital program this year. We don't do that every year, but we did do it for her 5th year so I have a feeling she was surprised but not surprised. Regardless, she didn't see it until we arrived backstage.
