Micah Wins in Dance Choreography at School!

At the kids' elementary school they have a program called "Reflections" where the kids can compete in different categories in the arts. They have a literature category, music composition, photography, art, and dance choreography category. Micah decided to enter in dance choreography and see if he could place.

He was 10 years old and in 6th grade now, and he decided to come up with a tap dance. In order to compete he had to come up with choreography to a dance and video it.

First, he had to pick a song to dance to. He chose a song by ColdPlay called Viva La Vida. We took the words out, and recorded it only with instrumentals. Then Micah began working on his dance. Soon, he was already to perform it and we videoed him so he could turn it into the school.

Here he is dancing on the stage at church.



He did pretty good, and it isn't often you see an entry in dance from a boy, so Micah ended up getting a prize! I think he took 3rd place in his age category.

He even got a medal!

The Decision to Change Dance Studios

Micah and Jewelia were having a lot of fun at their dance studio, but when the year was over and the new schedule came out for the following year, it just wasn't workable. Too many days, classes spaced too far apart. We didn't want to live in the van in between classes, and we didn't want to drive back and forth.

Plus, it seemed as if Micah wasn't advancing too much in his ballet class any more. Did this studio really know how to work with boys?

So, we began the search for another dance studio.

We came across another studio just up the street. We checked it out and found that not only did they have some other boys who danced there, but they even had men teachers! Their schedule seemed to work great. It had Micah's level class at the same time as a class for Jewelia, and so we were sold! We had Micah come and try out some of the classes and he was ready to go.

For the first time, Micah would be in ballet class with 2 other boys! He was still the only boy in tap, but he didn't really care. Jewelia decided to take only ballet, claiming her feet hurt when she tapped. She would take a class with girls 5-8 years old.

Micah and Jewelia's 2010 Dance Recital

The big night had arrived and Jewelia and Micah were excited to perform in their spring dance recital! Lots of friends and family came to watch!

Here is Grandma and Aunt Summer, some of their biggest fans!

First was Micah in his tap number. This turned out a little difficult for Micah because all during practice they had him pretending to hold a horn, but when the dance recital came, they gave him a huge heavy antique trumpet to carry and dance with. This made things a little harder on Micah since he wasn't used to the weight and size. He still did alright though.

Next was Jewelia's dance. There wasn't much to this dance. For some reason her teacher was never there most of the month and always had a substitute for dance classes. This caused Jewelia's dance to not have much variety since they didn't practice it very often. Even though it lacked choreography, Jewelia did a good job at her first tap dance.



Last came Micah's ballet dance. Still the only boy, most of the dancing came from the girls circling around him, but Micah was great and very handsome.



They both did great and we all celebrated after the recital by getting icecream shakes.

Dance Costumes 2010

Jewelia was almost 5 years old now and this was her 2nd year of dance classes. Micah had just turned 10 and was going on his 3rd year of dance. They were excited when the costumes came in for their Spring recital.

Jewelia was going to be in a tap number with this snazzy outfit.

Micah was to be in a ballet dance with his blue outfit above, and also a tap number dressed as an army guy below.

Micah in the 2009 Nutcracker

December of 2009, Micah finally got to perform in the professional ballet production of the Nutcracker downtown. It was very exciting. He had been going to rehearsals for a long time.

Micah played the part of a party boy in the sailor family. He did very well. Although we have some professional pictures of his costume and with the cast, we aren't allowed to post them due to us signing a contract with the ballet company, so if you really want to see them you'll have to ask Micah to show you them himself.

He had a great time, and many friends and family came out to see him perform.

Micah and Jewelia's 1st Christmas Recital Together

In December of 2009, Micah and Jewelia got to be in a Christmas dance recital together! It was sort of like a play, but with dancing.

Jewelia danced as a gingerbread cookie.

Micah danced as a penguin.

Micah has learned a while ago that since he is the only boy in the studio that he has to sit out in the hallway instead of in the dressing rooms with all the girls. It's OK, he just brings a lot of books.

Micah Makes the Ballet West Nutcracker!

All of this dancing started many years ago when Micah, as a 1st grader, went on a field trip to a professional ballet performance of the Nutcracker downtown. From there he was fascinated with dancing and hoped that someday he could be in their Christmas performance of The Nutcracker as well.

We told Micah if he worked really hard in dance that someday we would take him to audition to be in the professional Nutcracker.

He was 9 years old, and that was about the age where they would let kids audition to be a part of the ballet.

We took Micah downtown to audition. He got a number and waited his turn to be evaluated.

It was a long time to wait. There were hundreds and hundreds of girls auditioning, but not so many boys. We did count about 30 or so boys.

It was awful to see how they did it. They would send groups of girls in and then hours later someone would come out and announce that they were going to let some girls out to see their parents, but these were the ones who did not make it in. So you would see all these girls come out crying and it was just so sad.

That would be the 1st cut, and then there would be another cut and another and you would see group after group of girls bawling and sad. Oh, awful!

So it was a little nerve racking to see this and be waiting for the boys' turn.

Their turn came and we waited anxiously for someone to come out and announce something. A lady came out and explained that they were going to release the boys first who did not make it. We watched on edge as boy after boy came out of the doors. 1,2,3,4,5,6 boys out, no Micah yet. 7......8......9......not Micah......and they didn't all come right out. It's like a few here, a few there, and you didn't know if they were done coming out or not.

Finally, I think they were done coming. There was no Micah. That was it. Did that mean he made it?

The lady came out again and said the rest of boys who would come out next had made it into the Nutcracker! He had done it!

Micah came out with a congratulatory letter and instructions of what to do next!

We were so excited for Micah to be able to live his dream!