The Nutcracker Ballet

I invited my class and their families to join me on Saturday for a performance of The Nutcracker Ballet by The Lafayette Ballet Company. Fifty-five people came! Since it was a family learning trip, I invited my sisters, Lisa, and Vanessa. (Sadly, Cindie has been very ill for several months; hopefully next year she will be able to join us.)

Me, Lisa, Vanessa, Leslie, and Jenny

My sisters and I all got teary at times throughout the ballet - our mother used to come see it with us every year. (Maybe she was there with us anyway. That thought made me smile.)

 After the performance, we headed to Arni's for a bite to eat.

 It was good just to hang out together and chat.

We got some giggles over the allocation of the garlic toast.

The five of us agreed that we wanted to see the ballet together again next year and keep the tradition going. I won't be taking students then, but I'm in!

The Nutcracker Ballet

Seeing The Nutcracker Ballet has become a tradition for me - and every other year I bring my students along to see it. (Like this year.) A real plus is that I have former students who dance!

Meredith Roberts and me.

"Merry, Merry, Merry, Meredith" (her nickname) is one of my three year students as she was in the 2/3 class and then the 4/5. She's now a sophomore in high school, and dances en pointe. She danced several roles today - the housekeeper, a snowflake, a flower, and as the soloist in Trepak.

As I watched her dance, I thought back to when she was a second grader and I was meeting her for the first time. Her sister, Madeline, was also in the 2/3 class. I don't remember all of the conversion, but I was getting to know the girls and Madeline was talking about Merry. "She's grumpy!" she declared. I turned to look at Merry and she looked up at me very solemnly and nodded in agreement with her sister. I had a tough time not bursting into laugher.

Eight years later (and with no sign of grumpiness), Merry still makes me smile, whether she is pirouetting across the stage or giving me a hug after her curtain call.

An Unexpected Thoughtfulness

Yesterday, I went with some friends to watch The Nutcracker Ballet, an annual tradition. A former student, Meredith, was dancing the role of Fritz as well as on point as a snowflake in The Waltz of the Snowflakes, a flower in The Waltz of the Flowers, and in Trepak.

 Meredith as Fritz.

 Merry on the left in Trepack.

Merry is one of my three-year students, a very special group of kids that I was lucky enough to have in my class for three years. I was her second, fourth, and fifth grade teacher.

 Her sister, Madeline was also a three-year kiddo (third, fourth, and fifth) and they have stayed in touch with me since they left Hershey. Merry is a freshman at Harrison and Madeline is a sophomore.

Last fall they went to New York City over fall break and sent me this picture of themselves in the NYC M&M store.

I laughed when I saw the orange and blue M&Ms they are holding!

When the ballet was over, I waited for the Meet and Greet afterward so I could say "hello" and congratulate Meredith on her beautiful dancing. (She looked so grown up and graceful when on point!) I also brought a goodie bag with some treats and a note to give to her.

Merry gave me a big hug, and then, to my surprise handed me a gift bag, too.

"We got this for you in New York City," she said, and asked me to open it then and there.

An orange M&M dispenser with an orange Luke Skywalker M&M! Who wouldn't love that?

But more importantly, who wouldn't love a generous girl who is so thoughtful that she gives YOU a gift on HER big day? The day she is supposed to be in the limelight?

I thought I might cry.

Thank you, Merry, from the bottom of my heart. And brava for a wonderful job dancing.