I love it! The concert was on Friday night. The dancers were amazing. They always light up the stage and fill the room with happiness.
This was my third concert, so we've known some of the dancers for the last three years. We are so proud of them.
We have watched them blossom and grow, because of their experiences with the Music Makers.
We're so grateful to Melissa, for creating and directing the group. We're thankful to Nicole, for choreographing the dances. We're impressed with the young ladies, who are the support dancers and show compassion and maturity towards the dancers. We're honoured to be loved and cared for by the parents of the dancers, and the whole Music Makers crew. They are an amazing group of people.
Mum had been learning our dance moves, because she had to help me dance. Usually, I get around in my wheelchair... but not when I'm dancing!
The first year, Mum and I sat on a seat and enjoyed one dance.
The second year, Mum carried me in a baby carrier. I loved the three dances I did, but I got a bit hot and uncomfortable.
This year, Mum put me in my Upsee. I danced to all of the dances, except the last one. (It was a bit too fast for us... with our legs tied together. Mum didn't want to make the dance look funny, if we couldn't keep up.) We waited backstage. I heard the music and I was trying to stand up! I wanted to get back on stage! Mum wouldn't let me go!
Often, my hands can be a bit tight, so it can be difficult to straighten my arms. Before the concert, Mum was moving my arms, trying to loosen my muscles. When I heard the music, I wanted to dance, so I made sure my arms were as loose and flexible as I could get them.
Sometimes, I don't really want to do a lot of standing... but not when I was dancing! I felt tall and strong and proud.
Mum was scared my leg would be sore, because of the surgery I had (to remove the pins from my femur). Nope! I was a dancer!
My sisters loved seeing me on stage. We think its really important for them to see me on stage; dancing and being celebrated. On stage, I get stared at for all the right reasons! On stage, my cerebral palsy doesn't matter.
During the concert, I was wearing my Upsee (from Firefly/Leckey). I was strapped to Mum's waist, to help me stay strong in the torso. My feet were strapped in to foot plates. Mum's feet were also in foot plates. My foot plates were joined to Mum's foot plates; a bit like in a three legged race. That meant, when Mum moved her leg, my legs moved too! So, when she danced, my feet danced too! Because I was safely strapped to Mum, she could help me move my hands and follow all the dance moves.
The awesome costumes covered the body straps, so it almost seemed like I was standing all by myself.
We had a really fun concert! Here are lots of photos to prove it:
(Not all of the photos are ours.)
Mum was nervous about going on stage. She would have missed dinner, except for Janelle's beautiful sandwiches. She made sure Mum ate before the show, and during intermission. Thanks for looking after her! xx
Dancing Dexter
Bailey Sings My Music Maker Friends
Pride in Melissa Melissa Sings for Dexter
Move Aside CP – I’m a Dancer ‘15
*Shout out to the Upsee from Firefly (by Leckey). Without it, I would not have had so much movement in my arms. I would not have been able to stand as tall and strong. Thanks for helping to make my dancing possible! |