Daya on Stage

Tonight was the last performance of 6 at Manhattan Youth Ballet since Friday.

Daya was in all six performances, but there were 2 casts so she was in 2 dances for three performances, and 1 in the other three.

She killed it.

I never get to see Daya dance and she hasn't been on a stage since May 2019.

(Two years. Wow.)

It's one thing to know your kid is good and see audition acceptances etc.... but seeing it is really a whole other thing.

When Daya is on stage she's like this different person that I never experience, even living with her.

She can move.

It's pretty astounding, actually.
You have to see it in person to really get it... she's like controlled liquid on stage, it's incredible.

ALL of the dancers are really, really good... but a few have an extra edge...and Daya has it.

It was so good to be back at a live in-person performance!!!!

*************

After the show Daya came upstairs looking shocked and trying not to cry.

She was approached by Clifton Brown and Earl Mosley, who were at the show. (Mr. Mosley choreographed the finale number). These two men are quite famous in the dance world.

They have noticed her, they said they noticed her back in December in the Knickerbocker Nutcracker performance. She has been invited to attend Earl Mosley's summer intensive which she did not audition for.... and immediately the word "scholarship" was thrown out with this offer.

I don't know details about anything but Daya is being noticed by people who matter.
That combined with LaGuardia, Manhattan Youth Ballet, and Move|NYC... she's positioned to have a really amazing professional dance career.  We're on a whole other level here beyond "my kid dances"....

Daya's non-LaGuardia teachers include Daniel Ulbricht, Ashley Bouder,  Shay Bland, and......she's on frequent-conversation-and-hugs-terms with the legendary Deborah Wingert.

My mind is blown at how everything has worked out and continues to, it's so.....strange. Daya is not one of those wealthy ballet girls who grew up with pre-professional training, yet here she is in these crazy circles.

Proud is not the right word, it's inadequate.

It's all mind-blowingly astonishing, to be honest, and I'm extremely grateful and humbled.