Carlie is my Dancing Queen

The past school year Carlie took dance classes twice a week at Studio Elan (the best studio EVER!) with her cousin Claire. She took a hip-hop class with Teacher Hillary and a tap/jazz class with Teacher Jayce. I have had Carlie in dance class since she was two years old. Many of you know that Carlie was VERY developmentally delayed, has an educational diagonsis of high-functioning autism, and has been diagnosed with low muscle tone. She did not walk until she was 18 months old. Plus she is a foot taller than EVERY kid her age (just like mama). Studio Elan (in particular Jayce) have been instrumental in helping Carlie become more coordinated and confident through all the wonderful dance classes she has taken for the past 5 years. I can't even begin to thank Jayce enough for being patient with my daughter who when she first started dance would have SEVERAL melt downs per class, couldn't even do a front tuck (everyone else in class could), and usually seemed like she was in her own world. You wouldn't even know that she is the same child now, she has grown soooooooooo much!! What is even more miraculous is Carlie pretty much doesn't have any of the symptoms of autism anymore. I would say now that she is not autistic, just unique!! This miracle I owe to the TEAM at Early Intervention in The Dalles. She attended preschool there for 4 years and they worked miracles. Also her team at Colonel Wright Elementary School in The Dalles were amazing. Carlie's new school in Kelso can NOT believe me when I tell them what Carlie used to be like. They say she has NO signs of autism or learning disablities....they in fact say she is incredibly bright (I already knew that) and is doing AMAZING in school. Anyways, I know this post started about dancing and I have gone off on a tangent, but I just feel so blessed to have had so much help raising my daughter that I didn't quite know what to do with. She was such a mystery to me. Carlie is such a ray of sunshine and joy in my life. I just wanted to thank all those that have helped her develop into the beautiful girl that she is.

NOW BACK TO DANCE.....

Just like her mother, she loves to dance...even if she is not the greatest dancer in the world

(I think she is the greatest!!!). But, we both like to SHAKE it!!!

Here recital was so amazing....The dance recital told the story of Peter Pan....every dance class was a different character in the show. It was so nice that all the dances flowed together and told a story. Carlie was an Indian and a Lost Girl.