her response to music

After months and months of waiting, the day finally arrived for DQ.

Monday morning it was finally time to go to her first dance class.

Despite the confident front she put on, I could tell she was a bit apprehensive as we waited for her teacher to get there.  Several of the other girls obviously knew each other from preschool.  Everyone else had both ballet slippers AND tap shoes.  She had neither.  (It never crossed my mind to buy them for a four week intro class).  She also had a fresh set of "one week old polka dots" from last week's laser treatment.  Around family and friends they don't bother her, but around strangers is an entirely different story.  I could tell she was uncertain and was afraid that before long she'd tell me to forget it and let's go home.

Then her teacher arrived.  And you know what?  She's Asian too.  We've been blessed like this before at a first time (at Duke for her first eye exam there).  Instantly I saw Darcy relax and when the teacher suggested I take the other three kids outside because of limited space in the room, DQ nodded her head in agreement.  And then my girl got to dance.

Shoes or no shoes, she watched her teacher like a hawk.

I know this of course because while I left the room, I didn't go far.  After all, this was her very first dance class, even if it is just a four week intro to ballet and tap through the parks and rec.  There's something about watching her respond to music that just pulls you in.

And while her little brother couldn't be torn away from his puzzles and legos, her adoring older siblings were mesmerized too.

Because when there is music, Darcy is in motion.  Often she's not even aware of her movement.  I can best explain it by saying that dance seems to be what her body was made to do.  I think it's safe to say that we've found Darcy's "thing."

Now if we can just find some tap shoes...