Dance Recital aka Nipple-Gate 2007

So I did it! I made it through a year of dance class, followed by the dance recital without killing myself. Or freaking out on stage and not being able to dance. Of course there can not be an entry in my blog without some kind of drama, and I had drama on two different levels. (A) My cousin Maureen backed out of attending my dance recital due to another family function that she opted to go to. We got over it though. The second drama-infused part of dance recital was way more interesting…. And way more embarrassing and risqué.

Saturday afternoon went off without a hitch. Well, kind of anyway. Hip-hop was the first dance, and I have to say for missing two dancers, it went rather well. My friend Dawn, and this other girl, L.J. were both no-shows. So it was disappointing not to have them on stage with us, but it wasn’t a drastic change in the grouping or how we danced. Even though we had danced twice on stage, it was a bit daunting as this was THE BIG event. But once the music started pumping we nailed it. It helped drastically to have Carin in the wings reminding us to dance ‘sexily and sassily.’

Sunday’s performance for hip hop was no different, except Dawn was begging me to talk to her on stage. So there we were dancing and talking. This is hard, because you’re supposed to smile. So, I was like talking thru clenched teeth. But again, we ROCKEDto . Plain and simple.

Saturday’s session for tap was a little dramatic. Because it seems I got misplaced, trying to get part of my hip hop costume off. And my tap class was ushered back stage awaiting our song. So Carin (my hip hop instructor went on a mad dash to locate me and did) and we raced to the backstage to meet up with my class. I also wound up dancing with the choker on my neck from hip-hop, but that was no big deal. And there we went, tapping our hearts out. The song was SO fast, but we were amazing.

Sunday’s show was the one were risqué-ness took place. I was stoked, because my cousin Dolores was in the audience, and she was so excited to be there. I had forgotten that she used to come to my dance shows when I was younger. And there we went, tapping away on stage, like Happy Feet, and THEN I FELT IT. My left boob popped out of my costume, thru the keyhole…which is really just a low scoop, with draped material in the front. And I didn’t know what to do. Because as a performer, you know the show must go on. So do I dance with my boob out, or fix it. Well, I opted to fix it, but my costume was very uncomfortable as my boob was whipping around. So I tucked it back in, trying to be indiscreet...and knowing that people must see me fidgeting with my costume. Because of my distraction, I missed a key point, at the end of the dance, as I was center stage (and SO PISSED) and also didn’t dance to the full height of my capabilities.

Everyone said it wasn’t noticeable, my cousin Dee, mom and Ida aid it was ok. But then when we were leaving the venue, and I saw my tap teacher Cristin…she said someone told her they saw me fall out of it…TWICE. So I guess it WAS noticeable. And I guess everyone got a show within a show. But I had a great time, and can’t wait for the recital next year. Only next recital I will all but be superglued in to my costume.

Dress Rehearsal 2007:

So last night was dress rehearsal for the recital which will take place this weekend. I am equally excited and nervous. On bare-stage rehearsal, I goofed in one spot, but kept in time with the rest of my dancers. So I was really nervous that I would repeat the same goof in the dance at the same time.

My hip-hop number is the one which causes me more grief, as this is my first year doing hip-hop. Plus I don’t feel that comfortable with this one STUPID step which I am POSITIVE that Justin Timberlake and his doofy N’Sync pals did. So anyway, my hip-hop song is GET ME BODIED by Byonce, and out costumes are black and white…it is a tube/halter top with black & white streamers hanging and black track pants (velvet) with white stripe down the side of the legs. Plus we have a string choker, and gloveletts. I had missed the rehearsal on Sunday afternoon, so was really freaking out last night, because I didn’t know my spots on the stage. But then I decided to just eyeball my fellow dancers, as they knew where to stand, and so be it. So there we go, ambling out on to the stage in the dark, heads down, awaiting Beyonce’s “Woooo” to kick off our dance. And off we went, lines formed, moving as ‘sassily and saucily’ as we could per our instructor’s command. Everything in my mind clicked, and I knew when to move, where I needed to be, and managed to keep in time with everyone else. The only bad thing I noted was that the tie in on my costume seemed to be flying all over the place, and although it didn’t UNtie, felt like it had. (My instructor) Caron was pleased, said we nailed it. And mom even said that I looked real good, that the step that I HATE with the passion of a thousand suns, looked like I had it right.

My tap dance was next, the ultra-fast I know my heart is in good condition number to Patti LaBelle’s ‘Stir It Up’. Mom was sewing me in to this costume as well, and I kept practicing to make sure the boobies stayed where they were supposed to be. Because you know: (A) nothing like waiting for the last minute to sew the straps, and (B) why wear a bra? No matter what mom did, my left boobie felt like it was trying to escape, so we wound up safety pinning the straps to one another, which was hidden by my hair anyway. At the last minute, my instructor Cristen changed up entry spots slightly, bringing my line closer down stage. My friend Mary was upset because now she wouldn’t be able to hear me count us out, but Cristen counted her line out. As I waited for my entry, I saw one of the girls on stage pin fly off her costume. Then my group was out shaking our money-makers, and trying not to pass out from exhaustion. WE ROCKED. I can’t say anything other than that.

So this weekend is the big event. And sure I’ll be nervous before each performance. But I KNOW now that I can do this. We look great as a unit, and I know my stuff.