Elle Marie Ballerina: The Nutcracker

This year, Elle played the role of one of the columbines in Ballet Philippines and CCP Dance School's "The Nutcracker". Unlike last year, this year was a 2-day presentation from December 8 to 9 in Tanghalan Nicanor Abelardo, Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Initially, Teacher Gabbie said "columbines" and they will be wearing white and pink. So, I researched and discovered that columbines are small purple flowers... But when I finally saw her costume and her dance moves, she seems like a "Columbian" rather than a flower! hahahahaha! It really doesn't matter to me that she be a "Columbian" or "Columbine". What is important is that my daughter looked elegant and beautiful on her costume! Baby Ballet A sported a white tutu with red bows and laces. On their hairs, they were wearing red bow with crystals. Looks like her pink "cat" costume in "Sleeping Beauty" but again, who cares...

We would like to thank Lola Marlyn, Tita Nene, Tita Leonor, Tita Janee, Ninong Lingling and Wyona (not in the photos) for making Elle Marie's performance extra special!

We are sooo proud of you anak! We love you our very own Ballerina!

Elle Marie Ballerina...

I can’t wait for Elle Marie’s ballet recital this December! It is going to be her first ballet performance on stage and not just any stage but in CCP Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo where national artists and great ballerinas perform. She will be performing with the rest of the students of CCP Dance School and side by side with the Ballet Philippines scholars and company members.

I look forward to Elle joining the cast of her all-time favorite Disney princess character, Sleeping Beauty. Elle literally grew up with “Princess Sleeping Beauty Aurora” as she would call Her Grace. Sleeping Beauty was her first disney doll from Tita Bebe; Mama Ella read Sleeping Beauty to the rest of EALC Senior Nursery class during the “Show Me Your Mama” week; and Elle’s first costume gown was Princess Aurora’s pink gown! I heard that her Baby Ballet class will be performing as pussy cats wearing white tutus. I don’t recall reading about cats in Sleeping Beauty since the scenes in the story are mostly in the forest or inside the castle but who cares? Being a pussy cat is better than becoming a tree!

Parents were not privy to their dance rehearsal last Saturday. I am clueless and has mixed emotions about this one big surprise number. On one hand, I am excited to the point of jumping up and down in anticipation. On the other hand, I am scared of how I will react while seeing my daughter perform on stage. I know myself too well and I know that there’s going to be one big surge of “Tears of Joy” in the Tanghalan on December 11, 2011, from 10:00a.m. to 12:00n.n.

I recall Elle celebrated her first year birthday with a ballerina theme. I told my friends then that I have always wanted to become a ballerina and I was hoping that Elle could be one. I am not ashamed of saying that Elle is living my great ballerina dream, that I never had because of my hernia at an early age. I know that I did not force Elle to ballet. It took me two years since I last popped the question whether she wanted to do ballet in 2009. I waited patiently and it paved way this June when Elle approached me and said she wants to do ballet. Of course, I supported her with a big smile on my face and became a great follower of Angelina Ballerina, the mouse who made everything possible for me and my Elle Marie Ballerina! Thank you Angelina!