Kathleen has always loved to dance and moving to France has just fueled the fire! After arriving in Eygalieres, we found Kat’s Studio, a wonderful place run by Kathlyn (same name, French spelling) and her mother. Kat has a couple of students who have competed in an international dance competition for the last few years, and Kathleen joined them this year! Her first competition was last weekend in La Ciotat, a little beach town that is the beginning of the Cote d’Azur. Neither Kathleen nor I knew what to expect of the day, so we just went along and did what we were told by her instructor and the two other more experienced moms. We had a wonderful time!
We arrived at the dancing venue at 10am to register. The girls then had a short practice on the stage and we confirmed the dance line-up. The actual competition didn’t begin until 3pm so we had a few hours to enjoy the town. Our group walked along the beach and soaked in the salt air and sun. It was chilly, but that didn’t stop our three dancers from getting their feet wet! While walking along the shore, I decided that this was a place we needed to come back to and enjoy the beach! We then stopped at a cool looking restaurant for a fun lunch of pizza, salads and seafood. Everyone was relaxed and it seemed more like we were on vacation than at a competition! After our leisurely lunch, we headed back to the dance venue to get ready for the girls’ performances.
I have learned that each competition is different and that at certain ones, Kathleen (and her fellow dancers) perform numbers that have been choreographed for her by her instructor. At other competitions, she performs required dances that everyone else will do as well. The competition at La Ciotat was one where the kids perform their unique dances. Kathleen was doing a classique ballet and her friends did ballet, as well as, jazz. All three girls got their make-up and hair done and were ready for the stage. There is a group of judges who sit at the edge of the stage and grades each performance. After everyone has danced, the judges confer about the dancers and the scores they have been given. Then, a list is read of the people who have scored high enough to pass the elimination round and are invited to dance (in costume!) at the finale that night. Parents (and other spectators) are welcome to watch the dancers as they are judged, but it sure is nerve-wracking! Kathleen did really well, although she messed up on part of her routine which I could tell because of her facial expression, but I hoped the judges didn’t notice! She was disappointed after her performance, but she was happy she had done it and was hopeful that she might be invited to be in the finale. We would just have to wait and see.
Kathleen’s dancing friends, Tiffanie and Juliet, did really well during the classique and jazz numbers. We all waited for the outcome and watched all of the other dancers. (And there were a lot!!!!) At about 6:15pm, the MC told us that they were ready to announce the dancers who were invited back for the finale. Tiffanie and Juliet were at the top of the list…and then they said Wall Kathleen!! Yeh! We all erupted with joy!! So, our group took a short break to grab a quick dinner and then came back to the venue to get ready for another performance! After learning that Kathleen had made it to the finale, Bucky and Lucie joined us for the show! Kathleen was the second dancer to perform and she was absolutely beautiful. She was perfect and graceful and magical on that stage, and she made me (and others in our group) weep! Tiffanie and Juliet did equally as well so we were a very happy lot! We watched the rest of the dancers perform and then we waited once again while the judges deliberated. They compiled the scores from the two performances and decided who would be awarded prizes for the different categories. I learned that the prizes are based on the scores so not everyone receives a prize and even if someone gets 1st place, that does not mean others will get 2nd and or 3rd in that category – and vice versa.
While we waited (it was about 11:30pm at this point!!), Tiffanie and Juliet informed Kathleen that if she was called up to the stage to receive a prize, she needed to curtsy to the crowd, then to the judges, and then go and accept her prize. She was told to stay up on stage because all of the prize winners would join her. I know she was hopeful that her name would be called. And wouldn’t you know, Wall Kathleen was the first name announced! 3rd prize for classique! Yipee!! She went to the stage and did as she was instructed and beamed with pride as she held the crystal that was her prize!! Of course, Tiffanie (2nd prize for both jazz and classique) and Juliet (3rd prize for classique) joined her, and we cheered like crazy from our seats!! A wonderful ending to a wonderful (and very long!!) day!!
Tiffanie and Kathleen enjoying a snack after practice...
The beach at La Ciotat (the girls are at the edge of the water)...
More beach...
Tiffanie, Kathleen and Juliet at lunch...
We arrived at the dancing venue at 10am to register. The girls then had a short practice on the stage and we confirmed the dance line-up. The actual competition didn’t begin until 3pm so we had a few hours to enjoy the town. Our group walked along the beach and soaked in the salt air and sun. It was chilly, but that didn’t stop our three dancers from getting their feet wet! While walking along the shore, I decided that this was a place we needed to come back to and enjoy the beach! We then stopped at a cool looking restaurant for a fun lunch of pizza, salads and seafood. Everyone was relaxed and it seemed more like we were on vacation than at a competition! After our leisurely lunch, we headed back to the dance venue to get ready for the girls’ performances.
I have learned that each competition is different and that at certain ones, Kathleen (and her fellow dancers) perform numbers that have been choreographed for her by her instructor. At other competitions, she performs required dances that everyone else will do as well. The competition at La Ciotat was one where the kids perform their unique dances. Kathleen was doing a classique ballet and her friends did ballet, as well as, jazz. All three girls got their make-up and hair done and were ready for the stage. There is a group of judges who sit at the edge of the stage and grades each performance. After everyone has danced, the judges confer about the dancers and the scores they have been given. Then, a list is read of the people who have scored high enough to pass the elimination round and are invited to dance (in costume!) at the finale that night. Parents (and other spectators) are welcome to watch the dancers as they are judged, but it sure is nerve-wracking! Kathleen did really well, although she messed up on part of her routine which I could tell because of her facial expression, but I hoped the judges didn’t notice! She was disappointed after her performance, but she was happy she had done it and was hopeful that she might be invited to be in the finale. We would just have to wait and see.
Kathleen’s dancing friends, Tiffanie and Juliet, did really well during the classique and jazz numbers. We all waited for the outcome and watched all of the other dancers. (And there were a lot!!!!) At about 6:15pm, the MC told us that they were ready to announce the dancers who were invited back for the finale. Tiffanie and Juliet were at the top of the list…and then they said Wall Kathleen!! Yeh! We all erupted with joy!! So, our group took a short break to grab a quick dinner and then came back to the venue to get ready for another performance! After learning that Kathleen had made it to the finale, Bucky and Lucie joined us for the show! Kathleen was the second dancer to perform and she was absolutely beautiful. She was perfect and graceful and magical on that stage, and she made me (and others in our group) weep! Tiffanie and Juliet did equally as well so we were a very happy lot! We watched the rest of the dancers perform and then we waited once again while the judges deliberated. They compiled the scores from the two performances and decided who would be awarded prizes for the different categories. I learned that the prizes are based on the scores so not everyone receives a prize and even if someone gets 1st place, that does not mean others will get 2nd and or 3rd in that category – and vice versa.
While we waited (it was about 11:30pm at this point!!), Tiffanie and Juliet informed Kathleen that if she was called up to the stage to receive a prize, she needed to curtsy to the crowd, then to the judges, and then go and accept her prize. She was told to stay up on stage because all of the prize winners would join her. I know she was hopeful that her name would be called. And wouldn’t you know, Wall Kathleen was the first name announced! 3rd prize for classique! Yipee!! She went to the stage and did as she was instructed and beamed with pride as she held the crystal that was her prize!! Of course, Tiffanie (2nd prize for both jazz and classique) and Juliet (3rd prize for classique) joined her, and we cheered like crazy from our seats!! A wonderful ending to a wonderful (and very long!!) day!!
Tiffanie and Kathleen enjoying a snack after practice...
The beach at La Ciotat (the girls are at the edge of the water)...
More beach...
Tiffanie, Kathleen and Juliet at lunch...
The other Kathlyn and her mother at lunch...
Tiffanie getting her make-up done...
Kathleen getting her make-up done...
Juliet (and her mom) waiting to get her make-up done...
Tiffanie's mom (Valerie) and Kat's mom watching make-up getting applied!
Kathleen's bun of which I was very proud because she has short short hair!
Kathleen showing her dad her costume before the finale...
The two Kats!
Our three dancers were fabulous!
Kathleen's beautiful award!
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