Yesterday we woke up at the crack of dawn. She scarfed down breakfast while I pulled and sprayed and gelled and combed her hair into submission. It's amazing what a few well-placed bobbypins can do. I finally got her "ready enough" and we were ready to go. Hubs came downstairs to say goodbye (he was waiting for Tobes to wake up and then he'd meet us there) and away we went.
The competition (Feis) was across the city from us, almost an hour drive. We spent the ride talking about the Feis (I assured her that what mattered most was that she danced her best, and had fun. Trophies and medals didn't matter in the end), as well as listening to the Backstreet Boys (who celebrated their 20th anniversary last week). We arrived at the place and quickly found a place to change. The unfortunate nature of these events is "hurry up and wait" - there is a general order of events, but everything depends heavily on the number of competitors in each competition. It generally means that it's a mad rush to get ready, only to hang around the stage until it's your turn. While Princess and I were in the midst of the rush, Hubs, my dad and his fiancee, and my mom met at the stage.
Once ready, one of Princess's dance teachers pulled her aside to run through the dances on the side. She reinforced a few points, and wished her luck. Then it was time. I had her lined up at the stage, fixed her shoes, and reminded her one more time that all that mattered was she danced her best, and had fun. I wished her luck once more and then took my place at the back of the room, camera-ready (they normally don't allow, except for the little-little ones - try to stop us!)
I was completely unprepared for what would happen next...
Let me set the stage (haha). At competitions, the music is set for each dance. They play one song for the reel, one song for the light jig, etc. Each step is 16 counts, and at this age they do 2 steps each. What differs is the choreography of each dancer. Every school, and sometimes every dancer will have different choreography. The dancers line up at the back of the stage, and in groups of 2 or 3, they move forward and dance.
For the little kids there are stage helpers - they tell the kids when to move up, and start their final 8 counts before they start. As you get older, you keep track, and move up on your own, so that it's a seamless line of dancers going in groups of 2's and 3's.
Princess has danced in front of crowds before, but NEVER with dancers from other schools with other choreography. She's been warned, and prepped, but nothing can truly prepare you for the added difficulty of being distracted-by and avoiding other dancers on stage!
The music started, and she was in the very first group. They walked her up on stage, and... She danced her little heart out. She was dancing with 2 other girls, and the look on her face was priceless. Half the time her tongue was sticking out in concentration (we're working on it), the other half she was beaming smiles at the judges, at the audience, and at me. Her feet weren't always pointed, and she didn't always tuck, but she gave the performance of her life. Back-to-back-to-back-to-back she danced - first in a special First Feis competition (only with others who had never competed before), and then with the "regular" competition, against girls who had competed at least once before, all under the age of 7. Every time she danced her little heart out, and every time she left the stage with a grin.
I had to run back to the change room to grab hairspray before Princess had her final solo competition - the BIG one - First Feis Trophy. The results boards were on the way, and I just couldn't help it. I peeked. The first 2 results (First Feis categories) were posted and.... She placed 1st!!! I tried not to cry, but couldn't resist finding a secluded corner to call Hubs, who was back with her at the stage. I fought back tears as I grabbed the hairspray, and by the time I went back, the other 2 results were posted, where she placed first AGAIN. She sweeped all 4 categories, and won 1st for all.
I rejoined Hubs, my dad and his fiancee, and my mom. I whispered in all their ears the results, and tried not to let-on to Princess, who at this point was happily watching all the other girls dance on the stage, oblivious to any notion that there were results to see and medals to collect.
Finally I couldn't wait any longer. I took her over to the boards and asked her what she saw. I asked her to find her name, and told her that if it was at the top of the list, it means she got first place. The look on her face was priceless as she searched out her name on each of the 4 lists. The girls at the medals table were all champ dancers from Mattierin (volunteering as they weren't dancing until much later), and were all so excited for her as they passed her each first place medal! One girl even gave her a lanyard to wear the medals on.
Princess was floating on cloud 9 as we made our way over to the stage for her trophy dance. I took Princess over to the corner again and we went through her reel, the dance she would perform for her trophy. Princess was excited to get up on the stage again and perform, and otherwise was as cool as a cucumber. It was me that had butterflies. I felt like such a dork, and total stage-mom. My daughter was happily oblivious to it all, and I was a ball of nerves.
Finally her competition was called, and she took the stage again. And again, her smile beamed, her tongue stuck-out and she danced her little heart out! The competition was tough. It was the same dancers she competed her first set of dances with, but each new competition is a new challenge. She did beautifully, however. Regardless of the outcome, I knew she had again danced her best.
It was time to relax now, and wait for the results. These would be called after all the Trophy competitions had danced, and the winners would actually be announced on stage. We met up with her friends from her dance class (who were in different competitions because of age), took pictures, texted friends and family who couldn't make it, and chatted about the day. Finally it was time to call the competitions. I almost missed them, truth be told, because I just wasn't paying attention to the loudspeaker. Another parent pointed it out to me, and Tara and I rushed over to the stage.
The announced 7th... 6th... 5th place... I was pretty sure Princess was top 3, but as they announced 3rd and 2nd my heart started to race again. They awarded every First Feis-er with a little trophy, but the winner of this would get the perpetual for a year with their name added to it. They announced 1st and Princess was whisked up to the stage... My little girl won. My little girl won her trophy dance!!!!
She won all 5 solo dances, and advanced in 2 of her dances right off the bat. They had a fun little "most promising dancer dance-off" with all the First Feis Trophy winners (in all ages - Princess being the youngest, oldest being in the "over 10" category) that Princess was close to winning, but had mixed up a few steps. It was a great lesson for her, however - she didn't skip a beat, and just kept on dancing with a smile. Her teachers were really proud of how she handled it (as was I!) The winner was from the next age group up, and brought her A-game.
Princess also performed a group dance with gusto, and was the youngest and "greenest" in the competition! She learned the choreography 2 weeks before.
I couldn't be more proud, and we are both counting down the time until we can do it again!!
