Farewell!

Avery has danced at Studio 4 in Burnsville for four years now.  June 3rd was the last performance that she would have as a Studio 4 dancer.  I have very mixed emotions about this ending.  We have absolutely loved the teachers and the friends that we have made through the dance studio.  I think that Avery has had the very best instruction that she could have gotten in this area.  Being part of her team has already made a difference in her little life and I am so glad that she had the chance to experience this.  However, the studio is quite a drive from our home and as her level increases, so does the amount of time and commitment we have to the studio.  With Bennett and Bria finally wanting to participate in their own activities, it has become extremely difficult to balance all of this out with a dance studio that is 25 miles away in which we are required to be at a minimum of 3 days/week.  So, we all made a collective decision to bid the studio farewell in hopes of starting a new adventure somewhere closer to home. 

Avery started dancing there at 3 years old(we danced a year before that at a different studio).  She was in a pre-preschool class taught by Miss Heather.  I was so impressed with the teacher that I knew immediately that our decision to attend that studio was the perfect one.  Miss Heather demanded the kids' attention and respect and let me tell you that is a rather large feat in a room full of 3 year olds.  If someone was not paying attention or misbehaving in class, Heather would send that child right out the door to her parent.  She was very communicative with us and you could tell that she loved her job.  Avery danced to the songs "Little Star" and "The Bare Necessities"

Our second year at the studio Avery was in the Preschool class with all of her friends from the year before.  Miss Heather was once again the teacher and Avery just adored her.  They danced to the songs "Clubhouse Birthday Party" and "Love me Tender"

That summer, Avery attended the summer intensive workshop and auditioned to make a competition line.  She was chosen to be on the Baby Comp line for 2011.  She was also chosen to do a solo which we decided against due to her age and concerns about if she would even like competition or not.

Baby Comp was filled with familiar faces and a few new ones as well.  Avery was very proud to have been chosen to be on a competition line.  We watched her spirits soar as the first days of dance began.  Miss Heather would once again be her instructor.  We went from one day of dance a week to two.  After a bit of a rocky beginning(a combination of all day kindergarten and more intense dance steps) and some lost confidence("The moves are so fast mom!") Avery got into her groove and flourished as a competitive dancer.  I watched her skills improve drastically and I could tell that this is where she needs to be as a dancer.  She had a blast dancing with Austin in her tap routine and doing her signature leg lift in her jazz routine.  We competed at three events and she participated in the Dad/Daughter line with her dad.  It was a wonderful year all around.  She danced to: "Animal Jam" "Ma, He's Making Eyes at Me" and "Football Hero with her dad."

This year, she tried out for competition again and was delighted to make Line 1.  She was also chosen to compete with a solo and also a Lyrical small group.  We chose to have her do Line 1 and the small group but we would not do Dads/Daughters or let her compete in a solo.  She was pretty upset about not being able to do those two other things but we had to draw the line somewhere.  Dance is expensive in case you hadn't heard :)  This year, she was taught by Heather, Stacey, Kari and Melissa.  The sisters are who own the studio and they are all wonderful in their own ways.  She went from 2 days a week to 3 days a week for at least 2 hours at a time....talk about a MAJOR commitment.  Avery was able to compete in three competitions this year and the recital had 3 shows as well.  By the end of the season, we were so glad to know that this would be our last year at the studio.  She danced to: "Captain Jack", "Bingo" and "The Glow".  Her small group lyrical was beautiful and I cried every time they performed it.  Their tap routine was amazing and they competed so well in that number.  Captain Jack was an extremely fast paced song that they all worked so hard to perfect.  The costume...well, it was fugly! LOL!  I loved watching her dance with all of her friends and we had so much fun at all of the events this year.

We had a wonderful four years at this studio.  Thank you to all of the teachers and staff who helped my girl excel in this sport.  Thank you to all of our wonderful friends and family who have come to support Avery over the years.  Thank you to all of the mom's of the dancers on Avery's line,  you are all amazing and I had so much fun with you.  Thank you to my dear friend Gretchen who has walked this walk with me for four years...I love you!!! 

We bid farewell to Studio 4 as we embark upon new adventures!