Day 1: Jordan’s Solo Preview

Last night all the title contestants got their official backpack, leotard for the opening number the night of the solo competition (which is Tuesday night for Jordan), and their tee shirt along with the official program for the competition. 

Jordan’s day started at a reasonable hour- 7am. YAY for that!  This morning each of the contestants performs their solo for the judges. It is not scored,  just an opportunity for the judges to see all the contestants individually prior to the competition beginning this afternoon.  There are also no spectators for this. Just the 5 judges & the contestant’s teacher. 

Here’s Jordan reviewing her solo on her phone to "get in the zone" prior to going to check in for her solo time. 

Oh!  She also got her official Junior Miss Dance Pacific Coast jacket last evening from the Chapter 1 President Mr. Jason Coosner. Nice job on the jackets Jason! 

Here she is rehearsing before being called in to perform her solo. 

And....heading in to perform. 

She was very nervous prior to going in to the room. But as the door opened for her to enter, she straightened up, held her head high, and strutted in looking like she had all the confidence in the world. Way to beat those nerves JoJo & just go for it!  

Miss Grace said it was the best she’s seen Jordan do her solo. Whew!  Next hurtle conquered.  

Now we’ll meet Zoe for some lunch then get ready to kill it in the afternoon session. Onward........

Day 1: Intensive for Zoe & Start of Competing for Jordan

And so the journey begins!  This is our schedule of events for the next 9 days.  Any item highlighted in yellow is when either Zoe or Jordan or both will be competing.  For all of our sanity and to keep us organized I created a Grisim specific schedule combining both their events together, making multiple copies for me & the girls, as well as posting it on our hotel wall.  I’ve obviously been doing project management, system implementations and dance mom-ing for quite some time. I got this! 👊

First up today is a ballet dance intensive that Zoe will be doing for the next 2 days from 9am to 5pm.  Here’s her schedule:

She also got a new, beautiful black leotard. Love it! Excited to have Tegan back with us from Oregon to compete once again with the Shely Pack Dancers! 👯‍♀️

Zoe was born on December 14th & her student number is 14. I think that’s a good sign!  Superstitious much?!

Just finished dropping Zoe off at her intensive. Now time to go get Jordan ready for her solo preview with the judges.  Oh boy!

Later....

Junior Miss Dance Contestants

After the contestants from the 4 age divisions- Petite (7 to 9), Junior (10 to 12), Teen (13 to 15), & Miss/Mr (16 to 18), met as a group in the main ballroom for orientation, they split into their age divisions to get further instructions from their title director. 

Here are all the Junior Miss Dance contestants that Jordan will compete against who won their regional competitions from the various Dance Masters Chapters around the US and Canada. Jordan is contestant #9. Yay #9!!

Here she is looking very focused and serious. Part of what they do during the orientation is check that the girl’s awards dress, which they will wear for awards the night of their solo competition, adheres to the competition rules. For Junior Miss contestants their dress must be tea length and cannot be strapless.  Do you know how hard it is to find a tea length dress?!!  We needed to buy a full length one & have it shortened. First hurtle cleated! 

Tomorrow morning starts with the solo preview with the judges.  This part of the competition is not scored but allows the judges to see each of the contestants perform the solo they will compete the night of their title competition. Although not scored, the judges are allowed to take notes. With the large number of contestants competing this allows the judges to get a look at each contestant individually before the scored competing begins.  No spectators other than the contestant’s teacher are allowed during this portion of the competition.  

In the afternoon Jordan will have judges evaluations in tap & acrobatics, both of which are areas Jordan doesn’t feel super strong in.  Saturday she will have an interview with the judges in the morning, then ballet and jazz evaluations in the afternoon. Hopefully she should do great in all of those on Saturday!  

Tomorrow and Saturday Zoe is doing an all-day, 9am to 5pm, ballet intensive. Here’s hoping it’s fun for her. Zoe does not start competing until Sunday. 

Ok, enough for tonight. Both Zoe & Jordan are sound asleep.  Time for me to do the same.  Tomorrow will be a busy day for all!  

Peace out. ✌️ 

Opening Night Solo Title Orientation

Here we are in Anaheim!  First up, opening night orientation for the solo title competition. Jordan is competing for Junior Miss Dance of America representing Dance Masters of the Pacific Coast, Chapter 1.  Jasmine is competing for Teen Miss Dance & Courtney is competing for Miss Dance of America both also representing Chapter 1. 

Ok, gotta go but blog again later after orientation. 

Traveling to DMA in Anaheim

Made it to the airport & checked in our 4 outrageously heavy bags. But... successful packing!  They were all under 50 pounds, just barely. One weighed 49.5lbs. Nice. 

Zoe & Jordan are in great spirits & ready to proudly represent the Shely Pack Dancers. Let’s do this thing!  

😘 

‘Twas the Night Before Nationals

And all through the house, the bags are all packed and their snug in their beds, while visions of dancing dance in their heads.  Ok, so I skipped a few lines. It’s been a long day!  

But we are ready to go, 6 suitcases packed full, 4 to check in & 2 to carry on. Sure hope we can get an Uber that can take all of us, and our 6 overstuffed bags, from the airport to the hotel tomorrow!  🙏

My phone alarm is set for 5am so time to get some much needed shut eye before the games begin tomorrow.  Here’s to the adventure ahead!  

Cheers! 🥂

Day Before Nationals 2018

6am Wednesday morning & I missed my final gym workout with my BABS before leaving for So. Cal. tomorrow morning.  Was up late last night packing & getting up at 4:45am just didn’t happen.  Ah well.....instead I thought I would dust off and fire up the ol blog to see if I’m good to go with it on my phone.  It’s been awhile and I’m outta practice. Had to download a new version, figure out my password, and try to access it.  3 days later....here I am!  

Above picture is Jordan with make-up and false eyelashes that Zoe did for her last night.  Zoe was practicing putting them on Jordan cuz after all these years of being a dance mom that’s one area that I have failed at miserably!  I can’t put the darn lashes on! 😖  So knowing that tracking down another dance mom to put them on every day at Nationals just wasn’t gonna work, Zoe learned to do them for Jordan. Woo hoo!!! Now they both can not only put make-up on themselves better than I can do for myself, they can do false eyelashes too!! 👀

Ok, looks like I got the blog off and running. Gotta get my butt in the shower for my last day of work before 10 glorious days at Nationals in lovely Anaheim, California where I grew up. Here’s to the Dance Masters of America 2018 adventure ahead!!  Fasten your seat belts, it’s gonna be a crazy one. 

Love to all! 💕                                                             Lisa