Most Popular Post

Wednesday 20 April 2016

Sleeping Beauty

She was a reluctant newborn with a tenuous hold on life. Since that time however, just five years now, Sylvie has celebrated that life with joy. Her very being is a testament to love of life including movement and dance.


                                  Sylvie

Sylvie, who turned five earlier this month, has a dancing spirit. Her mother introduced her to The Nutcracker ballet on Youtube the Christmas before her second birthday. Sylvie loved it and wanted to watch the whole performance.

She watched Angelina Ballerina as well and liked to do " ballet moves" as she called them, with the characters during each show. Sylvie liked ballet!



Her parents, wanting to encourage her interest, enrolled her in classes the year she turned three. She enjoyed them, with an enthusiasm that was infectious. Her younger sister, Caitlin started the ballet moves at an early age too, and mimics her sister. 




Caitlin is heart broken every time her sister heads off to ballet class because she cannot go too.



Sylvie especially enjoyed the year-end show, where she was on stage twice. 



She enjoyed every minute of the performance and is looking forward to this year's show when she is on stage three times. Sylvie has a flair for the dramatic as you can see.



Before Christmas last year, the family went to Moncton to see the local production of the Nutcracker and Sylvie was enchanted with everything about the show. Even two year old Caitlin, though a tad squirmy, was also fascinated with the performance.



Last weekend, their grandfather and I took the girls to see an afternoon performance of Sleeping Beauty by Ballet Jörgen at the local theatre. Tchaikovsky's music means ballet to the girls and when the curtain rose and the music started, they were enthralled. Sylvie was riveted for the whole performance while Caitlin checked in periodically. She was her three year old self for the two hour show. 


                                                         Ready for Sleeping Beauty

While I love ballet and classical music, my husband is a country music fan. He wanted to experience the performance with the girls. Besides, one of us could take a misbehaving child out of the theatre while the other stayed. We joked about Rick needing to be the one who would have to be taken out. His love of his granddaughters outweighed his own reluctance to watch ballet.

Sylvie has told her mother that she dances in her dreams and has performed the role of Clara from the Nutcracker. On this day, during the intermission, before the curtain went up again, Sylvie said, "You know Nanny, I'm going to be up there one day." 

Who knows what Sylvie will do, what she will become? Her ability may not match her interest in ballet. I do know that for a five year old, she has an incredible attention span and interest in dance, especially ballet. We, her family, will continue to encourage her to follow her dreams. 

Next year, it's Swan Lake...without her grandfather!
 



24 comments:

Kathleen's Blog said...

Oh Lucky, lucky you!!!! Your two granddaughters are simply beautiful!!!! Our darling little granddaughter turned two months old on Sunday. We all went downtown to brunch. My niece and her husband joined us and we all giggled about everyone just watching Harper's every move. My husband said it's better than watching his favorite tv programs. She is so lovely and has all of us tightly wound around her chubby little pinkie!! Just the way it should be. I only wish that all innocent little children were worshipped the way ours are.

DJan said...

They are truly adorable young children, and I too realize the treasure they are, not only for you but for the world. I don't know if Sylvie will become a dancer, but it won't be because she didn't have the chance. Thank you for introducing me to her, and her lovely sister, too. :-)

Debra She Who Seeks said...

May the dreams of both girls all come true!

Joanne Noragon said...

What an exciting little girl. You can feel her in your heart.

Barbara said...

How sweet and wonderful. You're so right. She may or may not have the talent but the love of dance can be enjoyed forever. The girls are beautiful.

Anonymous said...

What adorable little girls. Lucky you to know them.

Marie Smith said...

I so agree. Every child deserves to be cherished. They fill our lives with such joy!

I love Harper's name.

Marie Smith said...

When I see a child, I always see the potential there, waiting to be nourished.

Marie Smith said...

We are fortunate to be able to nuture them.

Marie Smith said...

She is a dear heart!

Marie Smith said...

Thank you. They are precious, like all children.

Marie Smith said...

We are blessed, as we all are with our grandchildren.

Anvilcloud said...

It is remarkable how she became enthralled with dance at such an early age. We shall see what the future will hold.

Mage said...

Not reluctant now. What a pleasure they both must be. :)

photowannabe said...

How delightful. Her passion from such an early age is wonderful. She'll be a great student and will enjoy classical things far beyond her years.

Marie Smith said...

It may be unusual. We are enjoying her enthusiam!

Marie Smith said...

They bring us such joy, Mage!

Marie Smith said...

She will have a love of classical music her whole life I think.

Angela said...

Beautiful granddaughters!!! She seems to love ballet for sure. I love the look on her face on the last photo! He little sister is very interested in what big sister is doing.

Tomoko said...

Your granddaughters are so adorable! Little children's innocent smile always bring joy and dream too!
Have a good day.

Down by the sea said...

It is lovely to have such an interest and dream is at such a young age. They both looked so entranced at the Nutcracker. Sarah x

Marie Smith said...

They were entranced with the music and the dancing. They know the story well from a book I used to read to their mother every Christmas. She reads it to them.

Marie Smith said...

Young children are our hope for a better future! I wish we could see the world through their eyes!

Marie Smith said...

Little sister mimics her big sister for everything. Little sis is an echo on a five second time delay.