![\"dance-i\"](\"http:\/\/www.babypennington.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/02\/dance-i.jpg\" "\\"dance-i\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nMcCanless has always loved dance.\u00a0 The day she learned to walk, she began twirling and spinning and has not stopped, and she has been taking dance classes since she was two. \u00a0 This year, I enrolled her in a lyrical ballet class, which she has\u00a0 loved.\u00a0 Earlier this year, the only part about it that she didn’t like was when I picked her up to leave and her classmates stayed for the following class, a jazz class.\u00a0 From August to December, she cried after each ballet class and begged me to allow her to stay with her dancing friends for the second class.\u00a0 I finally broke down and told her that I would allow her to begin jazz after Christmas, if she was still interested.\u00a0 She was certainly interested and dove right in.\u00a0 After about two classes, her dance instructor began to talk about the costume fittings, “upcoming events,” and judging?!\u00a0 What I didn’t realize when we enrolled for the jazz class was that it was a competition jazz class.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So this weekend was her first dance competition!\u00a0 Nonnie, Kacy, Kate and I loaded up the girls and headed to the beach for a girls weekend and the SC State Dance Championships.\u00a0 We had so much fun dolling up McCanless! (Complete with frilly socks, bows, curls, and clip on earrings!) \u00a0 She wasn’t a bit nervous and was so anxious to get on stage.\u00a0 She was dancing in the aisle waiting to perform with her team.\u00a0 She loved every part of the competition:\u00a0 watching the other dance teams, being with her friends, performing on stage and, of course, winning!!\u00a0 Their precious little team took first place in their division!\u00a0 They were, hands down, the most adorable group and to my surprise, did exceptionally well! \u00a0 She was so proud, she wouldn’t change out of her costume and she wore her medal all night.\u00a0 When we went out to eat she was thrilled when others took notice of her costume, and even performed beside tables, twirling and shaking for the other diners.\u00a0 I don’t think Nonnie, Kacy, Kate or I could have been more proud!\u00a0 We were all beaming!\u00a0 We always knew she would make it on a stage somewhere, I just didn’t realize it would be so soon!\u00a0 Way to go, Cannie!<\/p>\n