storybook ballet

madelyn had the opportunity to go to her friend ava's "storybook ballet" class this morning for "bring a friend to class week" at her dance studio. she has been so excited all week and ava even lent her a leotard with tutu to wear to class. it was pretty cold out this morning so she had to bundle up before we headed out. since it was just the girls ava and her mom picked us up.

madelyn was telling us all about ballet and twirling her her tutu so i tried to get her to tell me about it when i had the camera.


she and ava watched the older girls finish up a class before heading to their studio to get a spot for class. i was taking pictures through the viewing window so most of them were way to blurry to post, but here are two of madelyn and ava waiting for class to begin.









then class got started and madelyn tried to figure out what was going on (she starts out in the middle of the circle). i guess madelyn was the only "friend" in the class and the others have been coming for almost a year now.



shortly after i turned the camera off madelyn looked at me with a pout-y lip and then started making her way towards the door. by the time i got there she was crying. i think she got overwhelmed by not knowing anyone except ava and not knowing what to do. plus, the regular teacher wasn't there and i am not sure that the girl teaching the class knew that she was just visiting today. madelyn just came out and said that she wanted to go home now. she did calm down and we stayed to watch ava dance. she almost went back in but didn't want to go in without me. and it wasn't just that she wouldn't go back into the class, but she wouldn't even let me put her down! when i literally couldn't hold her any longer she had ava's mom hold her. it was a little weird to see madelyn act so shy and clingy. i actually think that she would have done better if she had not been able to see me outside the window.

i guess we need to get her to try more new things on her own... love.