Nationals Wrap-Up

Later today I’ll have my first guest post, provided for your reading and (mostly) viewing pleasure by my esteemed youngest daughter, affectionately known here as TWO aka TheWeeOne.
But I would be remiss if I didn’t update some of you on the last performances that LaGrande was in and how they did overall.

First off – Placements are only published to the top x% based on the quantity of numbers in the category. With 25 numbers for example they give something like the top 8 teams placement recognition.

In the Jazz, Lyrical, Tap, and Duo numbers LaGrande’s teams didn’t place. Jazz and Lyrical are the most popular/competitive categories (especially so in this age-group I am told) with as many as 18-25 numbers each, perhaps more. Considering six numbers was a lot in any one category during the regional competitions you might understand just how concentrated and demanding this competition is. Amazing.

Secondly – In her musical theater number (which has a name that I know a particular reader cousin of mine will absolutely LOVE) called The King of New York, there were only two numbers this time but…let it be known that the team rocked it and earned 1st place. Two teams or ten teams – they don’t keep track of how many teams were there – first is first. 😉

I have seen a decent photo of La-Grande doing her signature leg-hold solo on center stage for this one and when we get the pictures from the photography studio (grumble grumble grumble) I will post it.

Lastly, La-G was a member of Allegro’s 90ish member Extended Time Production Number (aka Finale) and this time out of the two numbers competing Allegro was relegated to 2nd by an outstanding, big budget, number performed by a group out of Bozeman. They had props, a light-up-electronic-dancing-keyboard, a slide painted like a saxophone, and a 12 foot tall Cello with moving strings that they could extend across the stage, and impeccable organization and choreography. If I can find it on YouTube at any time I may post it here.
We found out later over a couple of frozen yogurts that the parents brought the props down from Montana in a horse trailer…a VERY BIG horse trailer. Wow.

So, now, La-G is in “convention” where she learns new dances, auditions for next-year scholarships, and basically gets a lot of concentrated practice time with estimable instructors and other dancers.
[tangent]
If you’ve ever seen the mass start of a triathlon, with all the flailing legs and arms churning the water into a froth…take away the water, add a dash of high-leg-kicks, a spin or two…that’s what their doing right now for an hour at a time – oh, and set it to music.

So far, La-G has only been kicked twice. sheesh.
[end tangent]

Congratulations to the Allegro Performance Group teams who have done very well amidst extreme competition here in Las Vegas!

[another tangent]
This turned into a bigger wrap-up than I thought but it’s nothing when compared to the visual extravaganza coming your way courtesy of TWO in any number of minutes.
Hold on to your hats.
[end another tangent]