To dance or not to dance...

Our little Sweet-Pea is a beautiful dancer. She's had 2 years of ballet, tap and jazz dancing, and the fact that she's getting better, means that she is learning more 'grown-up' stuff. It's bittersweet. I like that she's learning how to dance the right way, but I don't like some of the jazz movements and some of the songs that she's learning with.



Sweet-Pea absolutely loves dancing ballet - it's her favorite style of dance. I do not have any expectations of her actually becoming a professional ballerina, but I do want to encourage her to dance as long as her heart wishes to. On the other hand, if she does want to pursue it professionally, we'll be there to back her up, as long as it's in honor to the Lord. The dance studio she's been with this past year has had it's challenges for us. The first recital in December was nice. Her costume was modest, but nothing too glamorous. The songs were Christmas songs so there wasn't anything offensive that bothered us. Well, the spring/summer recital is in July (yes, they wait until July for it - crazy huh?) The one song that they want the girls to tap dance to is called "FiFi, the Little French Maid". Their costumes are gorgeous, but the dance and words to the song - which are to be sung by the girls while they tap - are atrocious! Totally inappropriate for 6 and 7 year old young ladies if you ask me!



So...we had a long talk with Sweet-Pea this past week and we decided that she would stop dancing with the studio she is with, and she would not dance in the recital (even after we paid big bucks for her costume...which we did get already). Instead, we would try to find a dance studio that the Lord wants her to be a part of. Sweet-Pea was totally fine with it. She knows in her heart that she wants to dance, but that she needs to dance in a way that is God honoring. We are SO proud of her for that!!! She used to dread going to her dance lessons because of the music, so she was actually looking forward to stopping and finding another place. We do NOT feel that she is quitting. We are not raising our children to quit - but we are raising them to follow the Lord. Continuing with this studio would not be pleasing to the Lord, so we feel that stopping now, will honor Him and eventually He would bless us for that. Guess what?!? He already has!!!



There is a wonderful Christian dancer at our church. We knew she taught dance lessons, but we weren't sure she taught ballet. She does! Sweet-Pea will be starting up with her in September. It's a bit further for us to travel to, and with gas prices so high, it won't be easy, yet we feel that it's what we're supposed to do. She will be in the level 2 ballet classes, which will also include a devotional time. What's better than that!?!?! Their recitals are usually held at nursing homes, so it's not only a recital for the parents, but a ministry to the elderly. We also love that! They do wear pretty costumes and dance ballet and interpretive dance...both of which are taught at the studio.



Tonight would have been another dance class for Sweet-Pea, but instead, she's outside with Daddy and Lionel blowing bubbles and having a fun time just being a 6 year old!!! God is good and we're so thankful to Him for opening up the doors for her to be a part of a Christian dance studio! What a difference it'll make I'm sure.

Psalm 30:11  "You turned my wailing into dancing..."

Psalm 149:3  "Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with 
tambourine and harp."