Six Bucks and a Handful of Rhinestones...

You know, I was doing a little math in my head the other day....not my favorite thing to do, I'd much rather read a book, but this was important at the time.  I was calculating how long it has been since I was in my last dance recital.  Hmmm, let's see, I was about 14 (I think), that would make it...borrow the 1,...that's 8...then drop down....

No, that just CAN'T be right...well, I guess it is.....wow. 

It's been 28 years since I was last in a dance recital.  That's a long time. 

That means that at LEAST 2 of the girls in my "Adult" Jazz class, most likely were not even born yet, it's highly likely that their parents weren't even married...gee, they might not have even met...ok, I'm feeling a bit older than I intended to feel, so let's move on...shall we? :) 

So, 28 years ago, when I was 14, I was in my last dance recital...I actually remember it quite well.

It was for my Pointe Class, and there were only 2 of us performing.  We held our recitals at the studi,o since our classes were relatively small, and there was a balcony for parents and friends to watch from.  I was so excited to show my Dad what I had learned.  We didn't do fancy costumes at this studio, so I wore my favorite pink strappy leotard with the gathered front and light pink tights, along with my pink satin pointe shoes of course.  Funny that I can remember the details of that.  Afterwards, my Dad and stepmom took me out to one of my favorite Italian restaurants, where I got spagetti sauce all over my pretty lilac top and skirt....that was the last time I "spun" spagetti in a spoon. :)

I took dance in an old building close to downtown, in El Paso.  Actually it was an old church...here I am visiting a few years back, for my 20th High School Reunion.  This building now belongs to the nearby college.  When I was 11 years old, I lived in a house directly across the street, which has since been replaced by a parking lot.  When I was a young teen I lived quite a few blocks further up the street and would carry a large rock in my cloth dance bag since I walked home in the dark almost 5 nights a week).

I loved this old building.  I loved the gorgeous wooden floors, and tall windows that allowed the warm sunshine to splash across the floor.  If you want to know about how I formed my love of dance...you can go here.  But if you want to know about how this 42 year old wife and Mom slid herself into a pair of Miley Cyrus pants, just keep on readin'! :)

Here I am all 'made-up', and ready to head to the Recital...

Well, this past Saturday, June 19th, I was in another recital.  A bit larger (quite a bit), a bit creakier in the knees, and a bit more clumsy, but none-the-less I was excited.  Now, it may have been a long time since I've danced in front of others, but I'm not exactly stage shy.  I have been in several plays over the years both through High School and then in more recent years in church.  I really enjoy being on stage and performing.  However, the realization hit me that I wasn't going to be acting...I was going to be DANCING!  Moving my curvy body all over a stage in front of a bunch of parents. 

The only consolation I had was that (in MY mind) the costumes would be Jazzy.  I had it all figured out in MY head.  Nicely fitting dance pants that sort of flared at the base.  Form fitting top with long and flowy sleeves.  Lot's of bling, maybe some fringe...flattering, comfortable, modest enough to ease my discomfort of performing in front of others that were my age or younger.  Oh yes, I had it ALL figured out in my head.

Then it happened.

My sweet teacher, Kristen, an absolute doll, who I would adopt as my daughter at the drop of a hat, came into class one evening with a few bags.  She had been out shopping around for our costumes.  We weren't going to pay a lot for ours, so she was bargain hunting, I love that! :)  She began to pull out tops and pants from these bags and I could almost feel the sweat droplets begin to bead on my head.

Were those the same Miley Cyrus pants and tops I had seen on the clearance rack at Walmart?  The 400 pair that just wouldn't seem to sell for $3.00?????  Gulp.  Um.  Isn't Miley Cyrus stuff sold in the "Juniors" department?  Isn't she a teenager?  Isn't a large in Jr's, like a Small in Ladies????? 

Oh, but dear sweet Kristen had it figured out, she had purchased a pair of pants just for me, long, flared legs, just like I'd imagined...only the fabric wasn't shiny, and the dull grey/black polyester blend clung to my behind like mayonaisse,....oh my goodness.  4 gals in snug shiney and one "older woman" in dull grey/black flares?

I weighed my options.  I am either going to have to A)  SQUEEZE into the Miley's and hope I "blend"... or B) look like a granny and stand out like a sore thumb.  So, I got to work.

Sorry ladies, I'm sure there are many of you who can shop in the Jr's section....I am not one of you.  I do not wear a small ANYTHING.  So, I devised a "plan", and with the help of my sewing machine, and using TWO pair of the Shiny Miley's, I whipped out a suitable pair that would fit my 42 year old thighs.  As to whether this was going to make me feel at ease and comfortable in front of the audience?  Um, well, not really, but at least I wasn't gonna look like Grandma,...I hoped!

In addition to the shiny pants, Kristen had chose the all too well known Miley Bustier Top...you know, the t-shirt that looks like you're wearing a bustier.  Yup. 

I figured IF we were gonna wear that, at least it would need some bling...so I offered to bling the tops a bit with some iron-on rhinestones.  The result was pretty cute if I might say so myself. :)

Here we are with our lovely Teacher, Kristen. 

(L to R) Jessica, Lisa, Brynn, Kristen, Mom Me, Monica 

Come back on Thursday for the "Premiere" of our dance!  Yes, I have it on video....are you scared?  I am.  But I have promised far too many of you that you'd get to see it, and I just can't let ya' down.