I feel like we have traveled SO much lately for ballet competitions! I thought it would be fun to do a little competition recap and catch you guys up on all the travel and upcoming things! Ballet mommin’ feels like a full-time job sometimes, but I am happy to be able to do it and spend the extra time with my “tiny dancer.”
Her first time to compete in a YAGP was back in 2022 in Houston. The cutoff age requirement to compete is to be 9 by January 1… so she made it by 1 day! She was the youngest one in the Pre-Competitive age category that year and danced a Classical variation from Paquita. The whole fam showed up to support her, and I just remember sobbing the entire time she was on stage! I just had so many emotions watching her go out there all by herself at such a young age. She didn’t place or anything, but just had so much fun performing and supporting her peers.
Our second year of competing was last year. We did the same YAGP in Houston, but also decided to do an ADCIBC regional competition in Atlanta. She did her same Paquita variation from the year before and added another classical variation from La Fille Mal Garde. She also had a Classical duo piece named Ocean and Pearls. This was also her first year to do a Contemporary piece. Since so many girls were going to competition this particular year, they also did a Classical group piece. At YAGP she did not place, but at ADCIBC she placed fifth in both Classical and Contemporary. She was so excited! She also got an invite to Finals for ADCIBC, which took us to St. Petersburg, FL for a week. This was so good for her because she learned so much, made so many new friends, and it gave her more performance time. At ADC, they get judged on class performance as well as stage performances. When we went to finals for ADC, it was the same with being judged on class and performances but they also had to learn a new classical variation that will be performed on stage along with a classical and contemporary piece. She did not place there, but again- the experience was so good for her!
Since she started the day program at our ballet studio where she goes 8-4 each day and because this is her last year in the Pre-Competitive age group, we decided to add one extra YAGP to the mix. She competed in Dallas, TX in early February and received Top 12 in Classical. At ADCIBC in Atlanta she placed 4th in Classical and was invited to Finals. The Classical trio piece she performed in also placed 2nd and received a finals invite. We have one more YAGP in Nashville the second week of March so we are excited to see how it goes! This year she is performing Cupid from Don Quixote as one of her Classical variations and Harlequinade as the other as well as a Contemporary piece, Nymphs for a Classical trio (this was her first time to perform in a competition en pointe), another Classical trio called Jewels, and a Contemporary group piece. We are so proud of her and are grateful to get to support her in her dreams!
