Dancing Queen

Stella loves music. All kinds of music -- Raffi, hip-hop, polka, rock, pop. She also loves to dance. My mom got her the LeapFrog Barn, which plays "Old MacDonald" and other favorites, and Francis has the LeapFrog Alphabet from several Christmas' ago. Stella plays with them all the time. I just had to share a video of her dancing. Stella has so much joy in movement -- it gives me great pleasure just to watch her.

We finally got her into "Baby & Me" music classes at the Conservatory at MRC. HUGE waiting list -- unbelievable. We only got her in because Francis is currently taking Orff at the Conservatory and she is therefore a sibling. (A much shorter waiting list for older children -- the enthusiam burns off? It is crazily expensive -- and most of the enrollees don't show up -- most classes it is the instructor and Francis and maybe 2 other children). I have to say that Francis is less than enthusiastic about music lessons, even though Mr. Holger understands boys and the class is Music & Movement. (Francis is ready for serious music instruction like I am ready to sit down and follow a season of WWF wrestling). We make him go because we feel that it is, like broccoli, good for him. I have also read some research that music, specifically playing an instrument like piano or guitar, helps to integrate the 2 hemispheres of the brain, so of course I am excited about it for Stella.

Wouldn't it be nice if everyone could dance with abandon and sheer enjoyment of their bodies like Stella does? Accept their bodies and the ability to move as the gift that they are?