Our Harlem Globetrotters Experience

Earlier this month the girls performed in the Harlem Globetrotters halftime show.  It’s the second time they’ve been able to perform in a show and it’s always such a fun and unique experience. They practiced like crazy and were so excited to have the opportunity to go out. They looked so beautiful and grown up and did such a great job. I’m a proud mom for sure.  

My Three Amazing Ballerinas

 This past weekend my girls danced in The Nutcracker with Dancing in the Streets.  They looked so beautiful and did so well.  They were in multiple dances and even helped create some of the choreography. Last year’s performance wasn’t able to happen due to covid and the girls missed it so much.  They were beyond excited to hear they’d be able to perform this year.  Dance means so much to them.  It challenges them to get out of their comfort zone, it challenges them physically, it’s is a great way for them to exercise, and they love expressing themselves and helping to teach others about their abilities through something they are all passionate about- dance.  Finding a dance studio that values this experience as much as we do can be such a huge challenge.  One that we've experienced ourselves.  They always feel at home at Dancing in the Streets, though, and are always welcomed there.  If you are looking for a wonderful, dedicated organization to support, they’re it!  You can donate by going to https://www.ditsaz.org/.  Here are some pictures from this weekend.   I think you can see their joy flooding through.  

Our Amazing Time with the Harlem Globetrotters

Life has been so busy (as usual), and I am so behind on my posting.  We had such an amazing experience though, and I wanted to make sure to share.  

A few months back the girl’s dance studio, Dancing in the Streets, asked if they would like to be part of a dance in the Harlem Globetrotters halftime show.  I asked the girls and of course they very quickly said “yes”.  

After multiple practices the day arrived and we drove to Phoenix for the game.  The girls were beaming when they went out on the court.   It meant so much to them, they are still telling everyone they meet about it.  Their outfits were beautiful but paled in comparison to their smiles.  They were on cloud 9!

I vividly remember a conversation I had with Madi when she was younger and our other two girlies weren’t home yet.  She was dancing at our local community center and she was sad because she didn’t get to dance on stage.  She shared with me that her dream was to dance on stage. I called so many studios, but never found one that would work.  I tried again here in Tucson to no avail. Then we found Dancing in the Streets.  Thanks to their amazing work, all the girls have been able to fully participate in their shows and shine onstage.  We never thought to dream bigger, though.  It didn’t occur to us that there was something bigger for the girls than onstage.  It turns out that there was; the halftime show was their opportunity for their “bigger”.  Watching them out there brought tears to my eyes (and I never cry!).  Dreams do come true, and sometimes you find your dreams weren’t even big enough because God has something even better.  It was a day we will never forget!

Following Their Dreams of Dance

I'm so far behind on posting, and haven't posted some of our most recent amazing adventures.  This is one I don't want to miss, though! 

Right after Christmas, the girls were part of the Dancing in the Streets performance of the Nutcracker.  Each girl got to be the lead in their own dance, and they danced together in a few dances as well.  They had such a wonderful time and are still talking about it, even though it's been a few months.  The girls looked beautiful and were truly glowing.  They did a fantastic job.  

We are so thankful for Dancing in the Streets and all they do for not only our girls, but also the children in our community.  They see the beauty in each dancer and push each girl or boy to be their best.  If you'd like to donate to their organization, or learn more about what they do, you can visit https://www.ditsaz.org/.  Here are some photos and videos from their performance.

Deena's Solo

Ramya's Solo

Madi's Solo

Dancing in the Streets... A Dream Come True

Anyone who has ever spent time with my girls has surely realized one thing; they love to dance. Wherever they go, no matter what they are doing, if there's music, they start dancing. Madi's dream has been to dance on stage since she was just a tiny girl. She took dance lessons at the local community center, which she loved, but they never had performances on stage. I called so many studios, but couldn't find somewhere that would include her and also had real performances. Fast forward a few years, an adoption, a move to Tucson, and the hunt continued. A few good friends told us about Dancing in the Streets, so I contacted them. They were excited to work with the girls and included them in their performance of Sleeping Beauty.

Leading up to the performance the girls went to weekly practices. Joey and Soleste, the owners of the studio, worked hard to understand how the girl's bodies move and what they are capable of. They made sure to stretch them to try new things and move their bodies how they are able. 

They performance was AMAZING and the girls were just glowing. They wore stage makeup, tiaras, beautiful costumes, and were radiant! They had so much fun and are still telling everyone about it. We had friends, family, and even therapists show up to watch the girls and they truly felt like stars. It was such an awesome experience and it meant the world to the girls. We feel so blessed to be part of their studio and all that they do.  

Dancing in the Streets does so much for the community; even giving scholarships to kiddos who can't afford dance.  If you are looking for an organization to get behind, this is another great place that needs your help!  You can read more about them HERE.