We just wrapped up our Nutcracker & Santa Spectacular Weekend, and my heart is still overflowing. Every performance, people mention the beautiful dancing, the timing, the costumes, the sparkle — and trust me, those things are absolutely incredible AND we love hearing all those kind compliments!!!! But the real magic? It’s the part the audience never sees. It’s the heartbeat behind why we do what we do. It’s the WHY of building champions on the stage of life. Back in our Dance It Up days, we used to say, “It’s all about our WHY.” Our WHY has not changed, how we package it has…it’s been LEVELED UP of course;).
Throw on some holiday tunes, grab a cup of Joe, and get in all the feels of the holiday season! Here were the moments that took my breath away…there are so many, but here is the highlight reel.
It’s seeing alumni walk back through our doors — not to watch, not to reminisce, but to serve. To roll up their sleeves, hop backstage, and lead our younger dancers by example… again. The fact that they want to come back, that they feel at home enough to jump in without hesitation, says everything about the community this place has become over the years. Seeing their parents in the audience coming back to support the next generation?! Next level love 100%.
It’s hearing a familiar voice on the headset — an OG dancer from the very beginning who grew up here, joined our team, took time away to start a family… and now brings her daughter to us. And without anyone asking, she’s chiming in: “I’ve got the performance kiddos.” No spotlight, no prompting — just pure pride in continuing the mission she helped build. Passing on the WHY while still being part of the heartbeat. In the next few weeks you’ll see hundreds of costumes be handed out and yes, she had a part in that too!
It’s watching ten pounds of “snow” accidentally dumped onto our dancers mid-performance by a well-meaning new theater crew member — and not one dancer flinching. I’m convinced they are still washing the snow out of their buns – They danced through it like pros. But the best part? The second the curtain dropped, teachers, dancers, alumni — everyone — moved as one. No complaints. No, “that’s not my job.” Just a quiet, powerful wave of heart, hustle, and teamwork to clear the stage so the show could go on. Even the Waltz dancers took their hoops to pull the snow back. Everyone did all they could with what they had. CHAMPION STATUS.
It’s the staff member’s partner who stepped in to be our Nutcracker — practicing on his own, coming to rehearsals, and spending his birthday showing up for our kids. Who does that? Well, our Nutcracker did!!!! Someone who sees what we’re trying to build here and wants to be part of it.
It’s the mom — a nurse — who saw someone take a tumble outside and didn’t hesitate. She cared for them like family, making sure they were okay and able to enjoy the show. That’s community in its truest form.
One of my favorites……walking into the lobby and seeing grown-ups — yes, the parents — lining up to take pictures with Santa…and Bluey, because deep down we’re all just kids in bigger bodies. And the magic of the season? It brings that joy right to the surface. It’s a daily prayer to bring that JOY in every moment we can.
I could share a hundred more moments just like these. The older I get the more I see, the gifts of the season rarely come wrapped in ribbons — they show up in the most ordinary, unexpected moments. Moments placed right in front of us if we’re willing to pause long enough to notice. I’m glad I’ve learned the power of the pause and to enJOY the Now.
So this holiday season, my hope is that we all give ourselves permission to slow down a bit more… offer patience a bit longer… extend grace a bit wider… and lead with hearts ready to serve. The Magic is no longer up to my parents to create……I AM the parent. The magic of this season is dependent on US.
If Nutcracker Weekend taught me anything this year, it’s that the true performance — the one that matters most — is the way we show up for one another.
And friends… that is the performance I’d choose any day on the stage of life.
❤️ XOXO,
Miss Jennifer
