a special carnival night . .

carnival of the animals was performed tonight by ellen's wednesday night class of 10 year olds. they really did an amazing job. ellen normally does this dance with two classes . . but this year she did it with just one. the costume changes were numerous and lightening fast! everyone did a great job, and c and her friend just glowed while doing their solos. m helped every wednesday in class and enjoyed putting the show together this evening . . while performing her pianist's solo! she's so busy that she's not even in any of these pictures . . she's backstage putting all the props and costumes away!

it was nice to have special friends in the audience to dance for.

with ellen . . (and here's morgana finally! korrina was busy with stage manager chores . . )

good night!

teching carnival of the animals

carnival teched this evening. ellen always surprises me. she has a million notes for everyone and a million and one notes for one particular person (it's always a different person for each group piece) and you would think that she feels it's all falling apart . . but she turns around and says, "aren't they great? it's really coming together." she is so aware of how hard the children are working, what each one can and cannot do, and how the dance is challenging them in so many ways. it's very exciting to watch it all happen . . rehearsal, tech, and show. we're really looking forward to this weekend. we'll be there for all the shows . . the ones they are in, and the ones they aren't. in addition . . c has an orchestra concert right before the 3:30 saturday show! thank goodness she doesn't perform until that evening, otherwise she would have to miss the orchestra performance in order to attend morning dance rehearsal.i liked this shot so much that i offered it to ellen for her website. however, she turned it down, saying people would misunderstand it, and it would give away the surprise of seeing carnival for the first time. but it is a great shot . . out of a million that i take . . it's nice that there is at least one almost perfect one.

jackasses . .

skeletons . .

c's dear friend in slow motion turtle mode!

(ellen gives m, the guitarist, some tips on how to be a pianist.)

swans . .

and elephants!
(can you pick out chanda?)

the carnival chicken dance

c has been working on being silly on stage, and less shy with the audience . . being "bigger" and more open to allowing the emotions of the story come through. she manages to accomplish this very well in the chicken dance! she says she likes being a bird.