The girls, 3 and 5, have been taking dance and theater classes.

So we had two big shows to go to on Saturday: Maya’s graduation performance at the Children’s Theater in the morning and Zoe’s role in StageCoach Theater Arts’ “Wizard of Oz” in the afternoon.

I’m not sure who was more nervous - the parents or the girls. (Okay, the parents… by far.)

In the first couple of weeks, Maya was too scared to go to class. She’d cry and cling to us as we tried to leave and twice we actually took her home. Then something changed - who knows what? - she started enjoying herself and by the time Saturday rolled around, THIS is what she looked like.. (Maya is right in the middle.) 

A girl transformed.

Still, we watched, hearts in mouths, as it came time for her solo. When Zoe did the same class last year, and the dreaded solo came around, she shook her head and looked at the floor. Nothing her teacher said could coax her to change her mind, even after the other kids took their turns with elaborate free-form leaps and arm-waves.

But Maya - clearly the smallest if not the youngest in her class - didn’t hesitate…

An exuberant twirl, which threw her slightly off balance, followed by an admirable recovery, and she was ready for her bow.

At the end of the show, the audience went wild. (Wait, what do you mean they were cheering for their OWN kids??)

No sooner had we recovered from that runaway success, then it was time for Zoe’s show.

Zoe had been practicing for a few months. The play was the Wizard of Oz.

Before casting, we wondered: Would she be Dorothy? Or at least the scarecrow?

She was cast as Munchkin No. 1.

Clearly the best Munchkin No. 1 the world (or at least St. Louis Park) had ever seen.

It was very sweet watching the kids troop into the gym, all excited. Never mind that they had to be reminded of their lines. On stage. Or prompted to start singing.

Here’s the Munchkin taking a bow alongside the tin man and lion…

And finally…a piccy with her proud family in front of the set…

I think the look on her face says it all….

Do your kids take music/dance/theater classes? Any recommendations for good, fun programs?

This entry was posted on Monday, May 18th, 2009 at 11:02 am and is filed under Family Life. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.