The Nutcracker 2014

Lucy and Mr. Rinat after her performance in The Nutcracker.

 This year for Ballet Lucy was able to move up to the Beginner class! She has loved being with the big girls. Her and Ruby are the only 5 year olds in the class right now, and they look so tiny next to everyone else! Most of the class is around 6-8 years old, but they have a few girls as old as 10, because if you haven't done ballet before Mr. Rinat automatically starts you in beginner. They normally split the class into 2 groups, but for the Nutcracker they kept them all together, and had some of the more 'advanced' beginner girls do some small group numbers. But that made for about 36 angels! They were all so cute and Lucy had so much fun. She really does love ballet, and I love, love, love watching her dance! She dances ballet everywhere we go, and all around our house all of the time. She has learned so much from Mr. Rinat, and we absolutely adore him. 

They ended up doing the performance with the Minot Symphony, so it was pretty awesome! The pre-ballet girls didn't get to perform this time- much to Clara's dismay! Haha... But it was such a neat performance. The whole first half of the show was just the symphony and was so much fun to watch. Clara was in heaven. We ended up with 2nd row tickets, and had quite the view! The cunductor was this cute little man and Clara leans over and says, "Who is that guy mom? He kinda looks like Peter Pan!" And he sure did! He even had a green shirt on. Oh, I love her! The second half the orchestra moved into the pit and the Ballet started with mini rendition of the nutcracker. It was so much fun to see it to the live music, and the girls are so talented. We're pretty lucky to have Mr. Rinat here in Minot!

Waiting in the dressing room before the show! 

 Cutie Clara, and her favorite conductor! 

 a snippet of the performance. So cute.

 Cute Ivy, on the right, was one of the soloist in this number. So cute to see her dance with her two little sisters!

 

 Cute Ivy in Waltz of the Flowers. She's our favorite babysitter ever!

 Final bow! You can see her right next to Ruby. Ella Joy and Violet are also in their class. As well as Lucy's little friends Eva, Ayla, and Lily. 

 It was such a fun evening! We absolutely loved the Symphony and all of the fun Christmas songs, followed by the beautiful dancing and music of the nutcracker! Such a perfect way to kick off the Holiday season. I hope they do it again next year!

The Symphony night was completely sold out a couple weeks before the show even was, so Mr. Rinat added an additional performance a couple days later with just the Ballet girls at the High School.

When you're in the Nutcracker you get a Nutcracker bow. Obviously! ;-)

Clara had the time of her life before the show even started! Tyler was stuck at the church doing tithing settlements. Tis the season! But Clara is really so easy lately, and loves the music and dancing. 

The littlest angels. Love these two!

The cute Noel girls! Ivy, Violet, and Ruby. I don't know how Jaymie keeps up with them!

 and of course- the favorite dance of the night! 

 We forgot the flowers the first night, and thank goodness she has cute friends who gave her some of theirs. We made up for it the next night! I love this age. Lucy is the sweetest. We're so proud of you Miss Lucy! You were the sweetest angel out there!