I suppose it was almost a month ago, Mom and I were talking and she mentioned wanting to take Kate to the Ballet at the Markham Theatre. The Russian National Ballet was performing Cinderella in a matinee performance and Mom thought it would be fun. When I looked at the website and realized that they were also performing Sleeping Beauty, I told Mom that I thought they should go to that instead.
The plan was to bring Kate down to Mom and Dad's, we'd have dinner, Kate would have napped on the way, then Mom and Kate would go to the theatre and Kate would have a sleep over with Grandma. Then Grandma got a cough. This was not part of the plan. Mom was worried she'd have a coughing fit in the middle of the performance. Yesterday she and Dad drove up and dropped off the tickets. I felt a little sad that Mom wouldn't be taking Kate, but also a little excited that I would go instead.
Tonight went pretty much according to plan. Kate had a nap - in her room after school. I had envisioned her falling asleep in the van on the way down, but I didn't envision her having a melt down because she didn't get a balloon, and she needed a balloon. (I also didn't envision her putting her coat and shoes on and walking off down the road. Good thing Alice saw her go towards the road. Kate running away definitely wasn't in the plan for tonight. It never ceases to amaze me just how crazy kids can become when they're over tired!)
We drove down, arrived with time to spare. Secured our seats and then we waited. Kate kept checking my phone to see the time. The lights went down a few minutes past eight and the music started. Kate was so excited.
Kate knowing the story and knowing the music - some of it anyway, really helped. She could anticipate things. During the opening scene when all of the good fairies are bestowing their gifts, she started to ask when the bad fairy would come - and then was delighted when she made her arrival.
She only asked once when it would be over, during the first half, but she was mostly captivated. During intermission we bought smarties and a cookie and we watched the bad fairy taking pictures with fans. I asked Kate if she would get her picture taken and she said no saying she was scared, but she really just wanted to go eat her smarties.
The second half moved quite quickly. The dancing was so lovely as were the costumes. Mom had gotten tickets in the front row. I was nervous that it would be too close, but it wasn't. The seats were amazing, so amazing. I enjoyed the two female principals, the Lilac Fairy, and Aurora, but when the Prince made his debut in the second half, I was really impressed. His jumps and leaps were amazing. Kate audibly gasped a couple of times. When the Prince and Aurora were dancing and he lifted her in the air above his head she said "How'd he do that?!"
Kate's favourite part was during the wedding scene. The wedding scene was complete with entertainment. Princess Florine and the Bluebird did a pas de deux, as did Puss 'n' Boots and White Cat, and Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf. All three were very entertaining, but Kate's favourite part - and her favourite part of the whole ballet "I liked it when Puss 'n' Boots and the mouse had a fight and hit each other on the head." (I don't know where she gets her appreciation of physical comedy?!)
When the ballet was over she was just gushing and so happy. "That was the most beautifullest thing I've ever seen." I had a gushing moment during the ballet myself. I thought about my own Grandma and how grateful I was to her for instilling a love of the arts in me, then I thought of my Mom who provided me with this opportunity to take Kate, and I thought of sweet Kate and how proud I was of her for being an angel during the performance, and I got a little misty.
After the show was over ("Mom, do I have to keep clapping?") I bought Kate a fan and myself a magnet. And I was able to convince Kate not to be shy and go take a picture with the bad fairy. The bad fairy - he was so entertaining. Not sure if Kate realized he was a guy. He and the prince were my two favourite dancers in the ensemble.
What a magical night. What a blessed woman I am!
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