spring has sprung

Well, last weekend we were off to hamilton for another competition: starcatchers. We went up Friday night and stayed at the staybridge suites; a very nice hotel with a great breakfast. Shyla had some time to swim and us a chance to socialize before bedtime. Shyla had her solo first in the morning. She was nervous as she would rather do a group first. She did well, or so I thought. Every competition, there are different judges and different criteria. She was not against anyone in her category. She came first of course and received a gold. Now a gold in this competition was between an 80 and 84, her score average being 83 from all three judges. Normally the judges are pretty close on scoring but she received a 87 from one, 83 from another and a 80 from the third. Her first competition she received at 93.4 overall and the second competition she received a 90.3 (even missing a little part of her routine), soooooo getting a much lower mark was frustrating. But I guess it is all in the name of dance. I also found out later that as a novice you could not get the highest achievement in the competition which was a diamond award (94 or higher), so that may have something to do with it. She did however recieve a special award from the judges; special awards are awards that the judges give out on top of the regular awards. This can be a costume, something special in the choreography, something in the dancer etc. The judge names the award themselves as they see fit. About 5-10 special awards are given out each session: each session is about 2 hours long and about 25-50 routines. Shyla recieved the "tiny and talented stage presence award. Her duet scored a first and a gold (only one in age category), her tap group scored first and a platinum (the second hightest achievement award in this comp and the highest a novice group can earn) and a special award for 'precision'. Her jazz group scored a gold and a second (out of 4 groups) and a special award for 'smiles and NRG'. All in all, they did great. The next comp is at deerhurst the weekend after the long weekend. It should be a fun one with a dance party for all on the saturday night and shyla i doing two workshops with Blake Mcgrath (finalist from so you think you can dance): a lyrical and a jazz funk workshop. He will also be one of the judges.
Ryley is in full swing for baseball with an exibition game this weekend. He has been released from both AAA and AA hockey tryouts. He wasn't upset. He really wants to Play A again as it promises to be a great year with a new coach. At this point, to us it is more important that Ryley is challenged, and has fun and a great coach.
We have added on to our pool deck, hoping to buy a gazebo to put on it, for more shade and a place to put food without all the bugs. Steve and ryley also spend yesterday hauling soil to put on our grass with seed to help it come back nicely. The last couple of years have been tough on it. It may be raining today, and colder, but that is alright, we need the rain. I think this week is winters last goodbye, we hope. Then it can be nice again.
I am also excited to say that one of my best friends has been on the adoption list for china for quite some time with no end result in sight. She has just found out that they are another step closer. I am so excited for her.

BATD Scarborough and hockey

Well, Shyla and I were off to dance again on Friday. This time it was in Scarborough. We were lucky that she got to perform all four of her dances in one day. This competition is marked hard and there were many more studios. Unfortunately, they just give your your placement in your group, 1st, 2nd, 3rd but you don't get to know what mark you received (silver, gold, platium etc) unless you scored at 93 or higher from both judges, then you received a special saphire award. Shyla's jazz group placed 1st but were the only group in their category. Shyla's tap received a 1st (the only group again) but received a saphire award and scored overall novice small group. Her acro duet scored a first (only one in category). Her solo was an experience. Unfortatley she watched the girl that was against her that went first. She was very good and shyla got very nervous when she performed. Shyla actually missed a small piece of her routine. Not that anyone noticed but her and the fact there was a bit a music left at the end of her routine (i am not sure that the judges knew). she was devastated. Big crocodile tears afterwards. I guess she did so well last weekend, she expected to do the same this time. Life lessons are hard. We hugged and told her that people make mistakes and hers wasn't that big. She ended up still scoring first in her catagory out of three (they were all good). I have no idea how she ended up overall. My heart went out to her though.
On saturday, ryley started his 4 on 4 hockey. He got about 60 shots and loved every minute of it. His team ended up winning 7-6 with a shootout. then we were off to another arena for two fun exibition games against peterborough. we tied the first one 0 -0 and won the second 5-3. then pizza for all. We then went to watch a friend of ours dance in a different competition in ajax. She belonged to the adult group Grease. It was really good.
On sunday, shyla sang in the junior choir at church and then we had a nice day outdoors where it was beautiful.

Let's Get Loud Competition -Orilla

Well it was a busy weekend. Shyla and I took off with another mother and her dancer Thursday night after work to go to Orillia for our first competition of the year. We got to the hotel and had a swim, then rolled hair for the morning and retired. Unfortunatley, I was getting a bad chest cold. This really sucks when you are sharing a hotel room with someone. You don't want to blow your nose or cough etc and wake everyone up. We rose early (6am) in the morning to get ready. Shyla's jazz group was on in the morning. They did okay and received a high silver and a first: now let me explain to those non dancers. There are three judges who have certain criteria on how to mark each of the dances: costume, timing, technical, stage presence, performance etc....varying differently at each competition. The mark is alway out of a possible 100, much like figure skating. The scores are combined and then averaged. The score determines which award you receive: silver, high silver, gold, high gold and platnium. When you dance, you are put in a category that matches your number. For example her jazz group in this competition was rated competitive jazz group age 7 (average age of group). In this category, there happened to be no one else entered. But you must at least get a high silver to attain a 1st position.
In the afternoon, we went back to the hotel and rested and then went back to do shyla and jazmin's acro duet. It was under competitive acro duet age 6. They did well and were not against anyone else in this category: they attained gold and a first.
At night we went back to the hotel, had some dinner, rolled hair again and shyla and i turned in early as it was a long day and I felt horrible. The next morning, steve and Ryely and Steve's parents met us in the morning at the competition. It was time for shyla's first solo experience. was i nervous for her. What if she forgot. She was put in the novice solo jazz age 7 category. she had two other girls against her. Many of the earlier performances of novice soloists forgot things, so i was nervous. But boy, shyla did amazing...her best ever. She earned at 1st place platium. Then she went to the overalls for the day and earned 1st place overall novice soloist (this is for all the novice solos for the day, about 45 of all ages and disciplines). We were very proud. She won a big trophy and a 50 dollar scholarship towards her dance. She also won the ADJUDICATORS CHOICE MOST POTENTIAL MINI/JUNIOR of the competition. In the afternoon, her tap group danced and did very well also. They were against one other group and came 1st with a platium also. They then came in 2nd overall for novice groups. A very good day indeed. We are pumped about the next competition this friday. We will be at the chinese cultural centre in Scarborough. Here are some pics.

more videos of tap and jazz groups

showcase 2008

hi everyone, it has been awhile since i blogged last. Last weekend Shyla did her showcase to perform all of her competitive routines before starting competitions. She is in four this year: a jazz solo, an acro duet, a jazz group, and a tap group. We are attending our first competition in Orillia this weekend. We are very excited. I am posting pictures and videos if they work: enjoy.

i am alive

Yes i am alive. I haven't given up on blogging. Unfortunately, our lives are just a little crazy sometimes. I was sick most of December and busy with Christmas and planning Steve's surprise 40th. What are we up to now. Well the usual. Ryley is in hockey playoffs right now. His team hasn't faired very well this year, which means much action for Ryley as a goalie. We have lost the first round of playoffs which means that we go to the consolation round. We may have a better chance there anyhow. Shyla is almost done her competitive rountines. She is doing four this year: tap group (a funky version of old macdonald), jazz goup (the best years from shrek), acro duet (we are siamese by hillary and hallie duff) and her first solo. It is jazz and done to Shake ya tailfeather by cheetah girls. It is really good. She is going to use it at the talent show for school. Shyla's birthday is coming up and I cannot believe that she is turning 8. Wow time flies.