The Gift of Dancing (Book 5 of the Ava and Mia Series)

Chapter 8

It's been 2 weeks since Christmas and we've been practicing like crazy for our Christmas show/party. Which is tonight! It's 3 and we have to be there at 4. We're in the car now! Baylee's mom is bring us and Ruby too (and Baylee duh...)! Mom and dad are coming later and they have a babysitter watching Logan and Erin.

We only need our dance bag with our shoes because we all left all of our costumes after our rehearsal this morning (7-12). The older kids our doing our makeup so it's actually good.

Baylee isn't going to the All Scots... I'm the only one who's under 12 going actually... Some older girls are going but not many go to this overseas competition. More go to the Great Britains and All Ireland's for oireachtas prep. It's close to worlds so people wouldn't go over to Scotland for the all scots then go back a month later for worlds...

She pulls up to the lobby doors and we all hop out and she's goes to park or something. We follow the signs for the show that people are putting up and head into the room labeled "backstage dancers only"

We head through the already opened door and go over to our spot where all of our stuff is. Ruby is already here. So is Alayna and Kristeen. We have our own little group and Sadie's off with her friends. Jodie, Chastity, Caitlin and Rebeca are the closest ones to us.

We all pull up our mini "vanities" with a mirror and this travel desk. We have these heat safe containers for our curling irons. I had to straighten mine first at home so I could curl it into good curls, not my wild ones... We all do loose curls then tease up the front and make a poof.

I go over to Adalynn so she can do my makeup. We're all supposed to do this brown/gold smokey eye thing, some light blush and this really nice red lipstick. I'm not good at makeup but she is and mine is "on fleek."

I go check the show order to see what shoes I have first.

Act 1:
Show order:
1. Santa Claus is coming to town- beginners + helpers
2. Saint Patrick's day- U12 Novices
3. Here come Santa Claus- Tiffany (with worlds sash)
4. Downfall of Paris- Baylee and Bea
5. Silver Bells- open slip jigs
6. King of the Fairies- Izabelle
7. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer- U10 girls
8. Blackthorn Stick- Kev and Clint
9. Jingle Bells- Sadie and Lydie
10. Planxty Hugh O'Donnell- Nora Marley and Hailey
11. Have Yourself a merry little Christmas- U12 winning 8-Hand
12. Youghal Harbour- Vera
13. We Wish You a Merry Christmas- Advanced Beginners and Novice U12
14. Blackbird- 12+ Novice and 10-13 Prizewinner
15. Madame Bonaparte- Alicia
16. White Christmas- Guys
17. Ace & Deuce- Adalynn Trinity Prue and Carolina
18. Winter wonderland- U12-U15 open
19. Let it Snow- Carolina, Kev and Marley
20. Planxty Davis- Lucette and Kit
21. Welcome Christmas- Isabel, Lydie, Sadie, Mary
Intermission
Act 2
1. Carol of the Bells- Mira (with Worlds Sash)
2. Vanishing Lake- Hale and Tiffany
3. King of the Faries- Arthur
4. Sleigh Ride- U10 open and prelim
5. All I Want for Christmas is You- Trinity Teri Kit Darden Mikey Hale
6. 3 Sea Captains- Caitlin and Jodie
7. Job of Journeywork- Prizewinner
8. Jockey to the Fair- Rosemaire
9. Happy Holidays- Oireachtas Winners (with sash)
10. Garden of Daisies- Jeanne and Teri
11. Blackbird- Daphne Mindy Diana
12. Orange Rouge- Chastity Rayen and Mikey
13. Downfall of Paris- Laila and Abbey
14. Drunken Gauger- Alayna Mia Kristeen Mia Rebeca
15. Santa Baby- Open and Prelim U16 U17 and U18 girls
16. Kilkenny Races- Hester and Keenan
17. Deck the Halls- Prizewinner and Novice
18. Blue Eyed Rascal- Mira
19. Blackthorn Stick- Ava
20. Awards/Achievements

Okay I'm in softshoes first! I go over to our area and get out my costume for that dance. It's to Rudolph the red nose reindeer so we all have little reindeer costumes and antlers! It's all of our first dance (except for Baylee)! It's only like the girls that are the U10 age group. Not the U9s and U8s too. Just us! It's so fun! As it gets closer to 6, more people are in costume and we all look so weird!

It's 15 minutes to the start and before we have to line up we all take a big group photo. This is the first time I've really seen how big this school is! I'm really excited. All of the trophies from our majors are out on a big table at the back of the "stage."

"Places everyone!" Miss Bethany calls down and we all scramble into order for the first 10 numbers.

We hear the teachers talking about how proud they are of everyone and how they hope that everyone enjoys the show and no flash photography... The usual stuff... We hear clapping and the beginners and their helpers head out. We hear their song, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, come on and the adrenaline is pumping! It's show time!