Monday, August 15, 2011

Praise Dance Camp 2011

Rachel is enjoying the opportunity to attend a Praise Dance camp this week.  She was invited by our friends the Wilson Family and we were blessed that our schedule was clear so she could attend. 

Rachel took dance lessons at a secular dance company in North Carolina for 3 years from the time she was 6 until she was 8.  Then, we moved to Oklahoma and she attended a Christian dance company from 8-12.  Rachel loves to dance.  She loved ballet, but especially loved tap and lyrical/Praise dancing.  However, through the years, it became harder and harder for us to feel at peace about the classes she attended.  We just didn't feel quite right about it.  As girls get older, pressure is often put on the girls to compete.  Some families are interested in that and there's nothing wrong with that, but we were not in the least interested in the girls taking part in dance competition.  Also, as girls get older, costumes tend to become less and less modest, which is also a concern of ours.  It became harder for us to feel at peace about the girls attending dance that didn't quite match up with what we'd hoped for: something modest, low stress and Praising.

"Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp."
Psalm 149:3
So, both of our daughters have taken a break from dancing instruction for now.  Then we received this invitation!  They were ecstatic.  Rachel is attending this week and Grace will be attending next week, with Rachel, along with several other teens, assisting the instructor.
Rachel was so excited, she was trying to plan her perfect outfit :)  She picked her most favoritist T-shirt.  It is the Transform Your Mind T-shirt from Wild Olive Tees.  That girl would wear that every day if we let her.
Wild Olive
Then, with her own money, she went on a fabric hunt so we could make her a modest, comfy and free flowing dance skirt.  Oh yeah, and cute.  It needed to be cute too.  And she specifically wanted it to match the aforementioned T-shirt.  We bought the fabric, spent all her money (it was a little nice to be picking stuff out and letting HER pay for it this time :) and then we came home and went to work.  It was a team effort.  We ended up making a 6 gored skirt and adjusting the 'pattern' to make it pretty full where it would twirl.  We used an idea similar to
THIS ONE only we made the base of each 'gore' wider so it would be fuller.  We also added a waistband with elastic.  A pretty simple, pretty comfy 'go-to' skirt.
This is the end result.  I think she looked adorable!
(And for those of you wondering, YES, she IS almost as tall as I am.  Thank you for noticing.  *sniff*  No, no, really, it's all good.  I'm looking at the positive and seeing it as a really fun way to double my shoe choices and even sometimes my wardrobe choices.  Also, I am no longer the only one who can get the cereal off the top shelf for the wee ones.  Yes!!)
Rachel also decided to try her hand at making a super cute flower bow with jewels and a jeweled butterfly center.  Again, my mega talented daughter did an amazing job, dontcha think?
(Sorry for the quality of the photos.  I was in a rush today and took them with my cell phone)
"Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs."
Psalm 150:4

1 comment:

Corina said...

Beautiful, beautiful.....as always. LOVE the outfit! : ) Camp sounds like a great opportunity for the girls - hope they have a great time!

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