It was a wonderful recital, so many cute girls from 3 to 18 about 200 of them and exactly 5 boys. As I watched all the girls dance I noticed in their faces that they were the little princesses they were portraying. They danced with such grace, such intensity and such believability that you realize they are dancing from their heart from their inner being. They try any step the teacher had asked them to do, there is no self embarrassment, they just go after it.  They may not be able to kick over their head or hold their leg perfectly straight but they attempt it and give their best. The jumps when they run across the stage were every type, some perfect some not and it just doesn't matter the jump was made. I think their courage is the most impressive part of the show. I know that boys and men enjoy dancing but why so few boys in the show, believe it or not I think it is a lack of courage on the boys part, they aren't going to publicly  try something they are not good at. Those boys that danced are the exception, they bravely gave their best and the audience loved them, last year there weren't any boys so these guys were a hit.

I enjoyed watching the very young ones the 3 and 4 year old girls. They did their own thing a couple of them simply walked to the edge of the stage and waved to their parents or  stared at all the people in the audience then they jumped or spun or whatever struck their fancy. Hair done, fancy clothes, sparkles in their hair, they were having the time of their little life and they loved the applause.

Julie cried a lot of tears after the last dance but they were happy tears, her boyfriend brought her flowers along with some from an aunt and cousin plus the ones her mom and I gave her so she has bundles of flowers and bundles of memories, she was in my mind the prettiest girl there and the best dancer, but she is my princess and my dancer so my judgement in this matter is a little cloudy.

My sister Cynthia Chancellor wrote this poem about Julie when she watched the dance recital.

The same day she entered the world, she entered my heart.
I watched her grow from a wriggling bundle of squealing flesh
To a giggling little girl who loved her grandma’s high heels.
She dressed in frilly dresses with ribbons and lace
And laughed and played, dancing all over the place.
She is now an elegant young woman and still she dances.
Graceful and poised gliding across the floor
With a warm smile and bright shining eyes
I am stunned by her beauty and grace.
She still holds that part of my heart

She claimed the day I first saw her face.