Dance Moms and Las Vegas

This year, Kylie was old enough to be on the competition team at her dance studio.  This is an invite only team, so she was very excited.  She participated in just one group number this season, but each year the girls earn the opportunity to dance in more numbers.  It was kind of nice just paying for once costume and one choreography fee.  Next year, we may not be so lucky.  We went to three competitions, our favorite being in San Diego, and she loved performing. Check out the happiness on her face.

The week after recital, we were off to Las Vegas for the Encore Nationals Dance Competition.  The rooms were so cheap, we even got to bring the boys with us and make it our one and only summer get away.  We had a great time seeing old friends, swimming in the awesome pool with a shark tank waterslide right through it, playing games, eating out, and jumping on the hotel beds.  And.....Kylie had a great time performing with her studio at Nationals too.  :)  They did a great job and I think it was a great experience for her.  She was also able to participate in their dance convention and got to take some classes from some pretty cool choreographers.  One of which danced with Justin Timberlake.  Kylie was excited.  Check out some fun pics of our trip to Vegas.

Posing like statues...

Coca-Cola Store

Trying different kinds of coca-cola from all over the world!

Some of them were not that great!

 

Just after we got home from Las Vegas, Kylie's dance studio got a call from the producer's of the TV show Dance Moms, inviting some of our competition routines to come participate in a "dance competition" in LA.  Abby Lee, the girls, and all of the dance moms were going to be there.  Apparently this was an invite competition only, so we were curious to see how much of a real competition it was going to be.  I honestly thought it would be rigged so that the Abby Lee Dance Company would take home all awards, and I was curious to see all of the drama unfold in person.  Much to my surprise, there was no drama in the theatre.  The moms all seemed very friendly with each other and Abby seemed to get along with all of them.  Each of the girls on the show are amazing dancers and Kylie and I were so impressed.  It was fun to watch them dance in person, and for Kylie to see how a TV show is filmed and to see all of the cameras and crew that were there.  Abby Lee and her dancers did not take home all of the awards and trophies, and our studio actually did pretty well.  Kylie's shining moment was sitting on stage next to Chloe (if anyone out there watches Dance Moms) for the awards.  She was so excited and all of the girls were very nice.  I have to say that I was impressed.  The drama must be "made for television" backstage, because I didn't see any of it there.  It was fun to let Kylie watch her episode when it came on towards the end of the Dance Moms season.  (Most of the time she doesn't even get to watch the show because the mama drama is ridiculous.  She gets to see the girls perform, and that's about it).  :)