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Tap Dance Day

May 25th is Tap Dance Day. It is a day to put on your dancing shoes and dance the blues away! I remember watching all of the dance teams and movies on our old black and white tv when I was a child. There was no such thing as a remote or cable tv for that matter.  You got your arse up of the chair and switched the channel. Oh my, how things have changed!

Who forget the likes of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers as they glided across the screen or Miss Shirley Temple for that matter. I have always loved to watch dance in any form and so it was only natural that my firstborn, a girl child enrolled in dance from the age of 3.

My second child, a boy, also went to dance class, but he only participated in two classes and decided it wasn’t for him. I was alright with that. My daughter took jazz, tap, and baton for several years. When I took her to class each Saturday and Monday, brother was also in tow. We usually slipped away to the library while she was practicing.

I guess my love of dance started when I was little. Each year my Mom made sure that we had tickets for “The Nutcracker Ballet” as well as Disney on Ice. I also watched American Bandstand,  The Ed Sullivan Show, Soul Train and other similar talent shows.

I, in turn, took my three kids to see “The Nutcracker Ballet” and Disney on Ice.

As for my daughter dancing, she won several achievement awards and even a couple of trophies for her tap dancing. I fondly remember her music for recital practice playing loudly as she practiced in her room or the basement.

“Heel, toe, heel” or “step ball change” escaped quietly from our lips. When recital night rolled around we were all pumped. She loved the fact that she got to wear makeup on those days and I used to French Braid her long auburn hair.

She had to be at recital at least an hour ahead of show time. My Mom, husband, and children also arrived at the same time, grabbing what we thought we the best seats in the house.

The venue quickly filled. All parents, siblings, grandparents, other relatives, and friends, filled the seats. Once the Master of Ceremonies stepped on stage, the audience chatter quickly dissolved to a quiet murmur.

I, like the others anxiously awaited for our child or relative to appear on stage. I enjoyed all of the dancers but when my daughter appeared on stage my family members would look over at me and see tears streaming down my face. So proud was I!

My daughter danced for about 11 years and then her interests changed. I will never forget the immense joy of seeing my child on stage tap dancing her heart out.

She managed to get her wings down to a pat as well as several other steps and combinations. To this day, just thinking about it gets me all teary eyed. To my daughter, Mommy was so proud of you and still am. I hope that you remember dancing your heart out on Tap Dance Day and other times throughout the year.

Love yah!

What talent shows (dance shows, entertainment shows) did you watch as a kid?