Spring Dance Recital - 2024 - a Teary Good-bye!

One of the yearly events that has marked my calendars for the last 15 years has been the Dance Connection Dance recital.  This years recital was a milestone for sure - it was Lia's last dance recital!  After 15 years it is impossible to imagine that she will not be on that stage next year. 

All of the dances were amazing and Lia, Ellie and Anna all danced so well.  But it was the closing of the show that brought the tears.  The tradition is that the seniors who are graduating receive flowers.  This year, Ellie and Anna presented the flowers to Lia.  I don't who was crying the hardest - the three on stage or those of us watching in the audience!

Anna begged to be in the special dance company, Spotlight, so that she could actually dance with Lia.  It was something to watch all three girls perform at one time.  And while we have many more years of recitals (think eight more if Anna dances all the way through) there was a strong feeling of this being a "graduation" for Lia.  

I went to two recitals this year.  The first day, Susie and Grace game to watch the girls dance.  The second day you really felt the "ending" as this was the last time Lia would dance with Dance Connection.  For Gwen and Tim, this really did feel like a "Graduation".  Lia was home schooled and had actually been doing college classes for the last two years at their local community college.  Never the less, they are treating this year as her "Graduation" so it was fitting to call this last recital a graduation.  We will be having a proper celebration for her soon (watch for that blog to come.)

I looked back through my photos from 2010 - the year of Lia's first dance recital.  I think I got more chocked up at those photos than I did at the recital!  Ken insisted that Lia must have the Penguin Pillow Pet since she loved Penguins!  This was one tired little girl after two very long dance recitals and a long day.  But she loved this so much!  

Watching Lia on stage dancing is watching someone float across the stage.  Even when she is tapping (which is far from floating) she makes it all seem effortless.  The hours and hours of practice both at the studio and at home are pretty obvious when you realize that she has memorized tons of dances with elaborate choreography.  I can't say enough good things about Dance Connection.  In addition to her own dances, she has been a student teacher for years as a volunteer.  This mentoring brings so much, not only to the little ones but to these older students. There are so many life lessons that Lia has learned through this experience.  She has worked hard and persevered to move up to each new level.  She has practiced and stretched and worked her muscles.  There is team work and cooperation necessary to make these dances audience ready.  She has been a friend, a teammate, a mentor (Miss Lia) and more.  

So this final dance recital had me looking back and remembering all those past recitals.  I can't wait to see where Lia will go and what she will accomplish.  One thing is certain, she is a great role model.  When she is invested in something, she also is willing to share that with others. While this might be the end of her time at Dance Connection, she is going to have a dance minor at college and will be dancing there. While this is an ending here, it is just the beginning!

Whenever I get the opportunity to watch Lia teaching on Sunday Mornings at Rock (the children's ministry at our church) I find myself looking ahead!  Lia has been a part of the mentoring program at Boulder (the student ministry) as well as serving in other ways at church.  I am sure that this will not end during her time at college.  

I have been thinking about endings and beginnings.  Isn't it interesting that the Bible starts with the words..."In the beginning".   Life is all about this very thing.  Beginnings and endings.  Birth and death.  These are the bookends that make up life for all of us.  While I was pondering this, I realized why Jesus talked about being "born again".  We need this new beginning for the totally new life that we have in Him.  I have never seen this in quite this way before.  And the very good news about this new beginning is that the "ending" of this isn't really an ending at all!  We just get to transition into a different phase of  everlasting life.  Jesus has defeated death!  Yep, this is truly the "Good News".

Jesus, thank you for your death on the cross that bring us into eternal life with you.  Holy Spirit, help us all to understand and grasp this simple, yet mind-boggling truth.  Continue to give us courage and boldness to share this with world.  Remind us that your message is for ALL!   Thank you for opportunities for fellowship and learning.  Thank you for family.  Amen