Today was an all-around fabulous day :)
My body allowed me to sleep in until after 10, which is a pretty nice treat these days! Even when I don't set my alarm on a Saturday morning, I still seem to wake up by about 8:30 (which I know isn't early early, but sometimes a little more time would be nice!) I then went out to Loudoun Valley High School to spend the day with the Loudoun Ballet Company as they put on their first two of three shows for the weekend, the fourth and fifth out of six total. Let me tell you, it was so nice to be back with my LSB/LBC family. SO nice!
Since I was eight or nine, my family has participated in the Loudoun Ballet Company's production of "The Nutcracker," and over the years it's become a family affair. It used to be just me dancing. Then my sister started ballet and began performing as well. Then when I became an Apprentice with the company, my mom became very involved in the wardrobe department, and now my dad's one of the busy backstage guys--laying the dance floors, doing the set changes, etc. (He's even got a headset and walkie-talkie now. It's serious business!) It's been fun to see this tradition develop from what began as something the family could simply enjoy together to an activity that we're all so involved in! :)
It's weird coming back and being on the other side of it all. I still get there a good while before the show starts to see my old friends and the awesome crew who puts together such a fantastic production, but I don't have to worry about making sure I'm warmed up in enough time to get sewn into my costume to be backstage 15 minutes before curtain. I don't have to stress about the performance...I can let myself enjoy it. Though as nice as this is (it's definitely a change from what I'm still used to), I always find myself missing it. Nutcracker season, as crazy as it gets, is one of the performance seasons that bring back the most memories. So many hours are put into rehearsals, so much time is spent with friends, and so many audience members walk out of the theater each year with gladness, having been exposed to one of the most magical holiday ballets out there.
Nostalgia never fails to set in.
It was a beautiful day, spent with beautiful people, watching beautiful dancing, remembering beautiful times and enjoying this beautiful season :)
Tonight, all of the above makes me happy :)