Jazz dance - Dumb Love

Let's talk flexibility for a minute.  I think if I tried half the stuff she can do I'd break my sternum or a leg. Click on the images to see them larger.  

What makes these on stage, catch them while they are moving, photos really great?  

#1 depth of field.  #2 correct exposure #3 a very fast lens.  

One of the other dance moms asked me about my lens and I said she could get one for $2000 right now.  She about died.  But it's made me thousands more so I can't complain.  Really good lenses set you apart from the competition. That and knowing how to use them.  

That's the sternum shot.  Ouch.

 You can see the Swarovski crystals on her face here.  Super fun trick I learned from the ice dancers we photographed last year.

 She is already starting to stand up here so I didn't get the full effect and she was moving too fast or I would have flipped my camera horizontal.  When you are focusing on one person you typically want to hold your camera vertically.

I'm behind but we're having fun!

First of all, I am a terrible videographer and I had a 3 year old boy sitting on my lap who was tired of the dress rehearsal and we were at the end of the 4 hours. Haeley had a blast and I really am upset that I missed taking video of the second song - she was so cute and smiled the entire time. Coleton was having difficulties. Her outfit was so adorable too. Of course, the ballet was so cute too! I love her costume this year. I got some fun photos to make up for it.

Oh and I've never uploaded video either so here goes!

Dance Revue

Haeley had her dance Revue last night and it was so much fun! Grandma and Grandpa Patterson were there. Grandma and Grandpa Vanderbeek were there. This was Haeley's 3rd revue and next year she will be performing in the big revue - this one is for the preschool and kindergarten girls. I am excited for her and nervous all at the same time. They had 4 numbers performed by the older girls last night to give the parents a good idea what their little ones will eventually be able to do. It was stunning. Those girls really work hard and what a fun way to keep your body strong! My Dad said he didn't realize how seriously they take their dancing here. He said he really enjoyed watching and his cheeks were sore from smiling so long. I enjoyed it too. My mom said she is going to go through her boxes of photos and find my dance photos. That'll be interesting...

All those little girls in their adorable costumes - cousin A* was in a blue Cinderella costume and it was gorgeous. She really looks up to Haeley and wanted to be an indian though. I loved both costumes - wish we could have had all of them for each girl. I loved the theme this year and since Haeley was in the Kindergarten class, she was in the Peter Pan ballet. There were Pans, Crocodiles, Pirates, Lost Boys, and Indians. Then later she danced as a cowgirl (tap dance) and then to It's a Small World (jazz dance) - but the new hip hop version. Anyway, tons of fun and Haeley smiled so big in each performance. She was never scared and she really got into the music.