Prima Ballerina

In this case, the prima refers to first-time. As you may recall, I went away this weekend to be a proper granny. This included taking pictures of how you turn a little 5-year-old into an absolute, ageless glamour-puss with a heavy touch of stage make-up. Scary!

Before we take off for the performance -- a proper ballet pose. With a difference. Tutu plus cowboy boots, a gift from Dad for a little one who is absolutely head over heels in love with horsies.

The theme for this year's recital -- the USA in its many variations, plus a touch of patriotism.

Grandchild's number was, like most, short. No time to get positioned away from that interfering head on the left!

I was impressed by the attention to detail with this production -- up to and including a place for proud fathers (or moms or grandparents) who forgot to buy posies for their dancing princesses (I may have counted as many as three male types up on the stage out of maybe 75 or more.)

Our little one with her flowers.

What to do about the slippers? Not meant for any surface but the dance floor; on the other hand, next fall when lessons start again, what size will she be wearing. But kicking off the shoes is standard operating procedure for her in any event.

An easy solution.

Nutcracker Season

They're off to see the Nutcracker -- a holiday treat for my daughter and her daughter. They blew in from Flagstaff, along with the cold front (which promises to be a dud, water-wise.)

However, despite the chill and the grey overcast sky, today was a wonderful day for little girls in their little girl holiday finery, much of it red.

The granddaughter discovered the huge mirrored doors at the entrance to Yavapai College's auditorium.

On the other side, inside looking out at more arrivals.

What should greet us once we were inside, but a splendid, tempting array of nutcrackers. For sale, of course.

But what the hell, TANSTAAFL -- there ain't no such thing as a free lunch. Ballet folk have to eat, too. And buy beautiful costumes and colorful backdrops for staging.

And so we headed up the grand staircase to the balcony for the show. It was granddaughter's first Nutcracker; I don't recall how many years my daughter and I went when she was young.

The little one took one look at the snowflakes on the walls of the auditorium as the lights dimmed and announced that "they do it with light." She was right, of course, and caught on well before I did with my aging eyes.

More snowflakes, but this time on stage. Good performance! And the almost-five-year-old sat reasonably still through most of it! But then she's recently started ballet lessons.

And a grand finale with a cast that ranged from surprisingly small -- to grownup!

However, one look at the ballerinas signing autographs is a tipoff to the prime age group of Ballet Etudes -- most of these seasoned dancers are still in high school!

For our family finale, a picture of the granddaughter with one of the larger nutcrackers. An afternoon well spent -- and possibly a Christmas tradition established.