Ballet Update

Well it turns out, ballet isn't really Olivia's thing, at least not this time. We've had 3 nights of ballet so far and Olivia only really participated in the first night. The last 2 times she has been fine getting ready, in the car on the way, and even waiting for class to start. As soon as we walk in the studio doors and the kids all gather to go through the "magic door", Olivia starts with her pouty face, crying and being super clingy. She starts out by going with the other kids but as soon as they are all seated away from the parents, Olivia pretty much loses it. She ends up watching the rest of the class standing with one of us. It's funny/sad at the same time. Her little pouty face is adorable, so it makes me laugh to see her doing it, but it's so sad that she doesn't want to go have fun with her ballet friends. We're not entirely sure what the problem is, she loves watching the class and doing all the moves at home with Lucy, but when it comes to being separated from us and with these 2 "strange" teachers, she just can't handle it.

Lucy on the otherhand is in heaven in the class. She loves to go, participates in everything and is very much a directions follower. Everything the teacher does, Lucy does even if the other kids are running around, doing other things or not listening. Lucy doesn't really pay much attention to the other kids since she is focused on the teacher. We've caught her practicing her ballet moves at home with Olivia a few times too and she really enjoys everything about the class. She honestly could care less if Olivia is participating, crying or even there half the time. Lucy does look over at us and smiles occasionally throughout the class with this little look of pride. Lucy loves the free dance part of the class where they get scarves or ribbons to run, twirl and dance around with. She follows the teacher and tries to mimic what she is doing (even while the other kids are wearing, sitting on, or sword-fighting with theirs). As soon as we get in the car to go home Lucy always says "why you cry at ballet sister? No cry at ballet. Ballet is fun with friends". Apparently that's not enough to convince Olivia, though.

The class is only half an hour so it goes by quickly but how the teachers handle 10-12 two year olds is a mystery to me. Half the time most of the kids are doing whatever they want. We laughed so much this last week when all the kids were supposed to go sit on a line she drew on the far side of the room. Then they were to go one at a time across the room, jumping and then pose at the end for all the parents to clap. She didn't even get through explaining when half the kids stood up and started running or jumping across the room. After a few attempts to corral them, she got a few through the exercise while the others watched and then sat them aside to help the others. Lucy sat on that line across the room watching the entire time. She didn't stand up or run off once. She sat there until the teacher specifically called her to take her turn and then she went and sat in the finished area without moving. We were cracking up because no matter what the other kids did, Lucy wasn't phased and just waited for the teacher to give her more directions.

I am glad we did this with the girls and it definitely gave us a chance to see that yes, in fact they are two different people with different personalities. I hope Olivia warms up to it the next time we do a session of ballet, or finds something else she enjoys. We'll see.