Dance Mom Practice

 Oh, that?

That’s Dorothy’s dance bag (that is actually just a duffel bag we already had because I am not ready to shell out for one of these because OMG that’s pricey) packed with her stuff and plus also stuff to entertain Minnie for hours on end because last Sunday? Was Dorothy’s studio’s team dress rehearsal. It’s a 10-hour event where every single competition routine performs full out at a local high school. Packed dressing rooms! Quick costume changes! Cool lights! Notes from a panel of teachers! It’s intense. AND NOT TODDLER FRIENDLY. WHO KNEW? (Me. I knew. But I had no choice. Coop had a dive meet, and, as we have discussed, Minnie is NOT a silent audience member. Luckily, she could be as loud as she wanted to be at dance because the music was always already louder.)

I spent a LOT of time following her up and down these stairs.

The team is encouraged to stay all day and watch all the dances, but I am a reluctant joiner and honestly would have bailed early EXCEPT Dorothy had the first dance of the morning, the dance right before lunch, and the penultimate dance of the day.

Speaking of lunch! Minnie ate hers before 11 am.

How cute is this? Dorothy is the teeny blond with her hands on her hips.

After Minnie ate and we did her hair along with Dorothy’s and she played in the bathroom slamming stall doors as hard as she could and dodging them when they popped open in her face, she was supper bored and wanted to go home and watch tv.

Luckily, Coop made quick work of his 1 meter competition, placing third in the junior Olympic level, and they sped home from Milwaukee to pick up Minnie. Curbside, even. (He won 3 meter at the novice level on Saturday).

JUST IN TIME for Dorothy to dress like Tony Soprano and do another dance through her seething red cloud of hanger.

SHE REALLY NEEDED TO EAT, you guys.

After lunch, with a 3-hour break for Dorothy and no Minnie, was the best part of my day. Dorothy perched on the end of the stage with her friends and watched the older girls dance, and I sat in the audience reading and occasionally getting sucked into a dance.

We had plenty of time to do her hair and makeup for her last number (musical theater and darling)

I did not take any pictures of musical theater because Dorothy’s hand started bleeding, and it took me WAY TOO LONG to realize that I should go help her. The studio owner took her to the bathroom, and I caught up with them, but I had no supplies because I was wearing a fanny pack (it was international fanny pack day) (I wore it cross-body), and that’s what I said when I got to the bathroom. Dorothy and her teacher both looked at me like what the what, which, honestly is what I deserve. “Sorry it took me so long. It’s international fanny pack day.” WHAT.

Cute costume, though:

So. She has a competition this weekend. And I have to drive home in the dark. I am a huge wimpy baby about driving at night and about driving far away from my town. Wish us luck!