Some dances

Sweetheart Ball, February 11

First up, Sweetheart Ball. Ana wanted to go with a big group of friends. With the guidance of the new "For the Strength of Youth" pamphlet and our consideration, we decided it would be a good experience for her to go. So the day after we got home from California, Ana got gussied up and had a swell time with her date, Asher, and a big ol' bunch of ballroom kids as they attended Skyline's Sweetheart. (Bonneville's had been the weekend before.)

Ana pinning a boutonniere on her date at Barnes and Noble. Why were they at Barnes and Noble? To take pictures, of course.

 

Group photo in the mall. 

Utah Classic, February 17-18

Then Ana went to Farmington (and Seth and I followed) to compete in the Utah Classic on February 17 and 18. We did some thrift shopping in our off time, and enjoyed the dancing in the Legacy Events Center.

Ana's gold team placed 1st in their division for "Higher" and "Sticks and Stones," 3rd in their division for "I Need You" and their varsity cabaret number.

Dancing "Higher."

"Sticks and Stones," a fun routine that basically has no ballroom in it. They weren't allowed to use it at their Gem State competition because the rules have been changed that say you have to have a specific percentage of recognizable ballroom steps in it. 

Ana dancing with Dallin for syllabus while her coaches Javie and McKinley watch in the background.

Dancing "I Need You." Normally Ana doesn't have to dance with an air partner, but her partner during this part of the dance threw his back out the day before, so he couldn't dance that day.

Reacting to the "very high" fire danger posted at the Malad rest stop on our way home Saturday. It had obviously been a while since someone had updated it because everything was covered in snow.

Nationals, March 7-11

Since Ana is on the gold team at Bonneville, that meant she got to go to Nationals. The team rented out part of an enormous mansion in Orem to stay at between their medleys, syllabus and open. Rebekah got to be my dance trip buddy since she finished her high school requirements a trimester early. So she and I stayed in an apartment Seth's uncle owns in Provo. We were a 10-minute drive from the dancers' place, and a 5-minute drive from the Marriott Center where the competition was held. 

Ana performed with the medley team and with her partner for syllabus. The Elvis medley placed fourth in their division, and Ana and Dallin made it to the quarterfinals with their swing. Rebekah and I photographed/videotaped performances, ate a Cougar Tail (a GIANT maple bar), went to the campus art and biology museums, toured the tabernacle replica that happened to be on campus that week, ate lunch with my nephew Mason, and watched several edited movies (Jaws, Psycho, Schindler's List, Zombieland). We also sneaked a Cougar Tail to Ana on the last day. It took her forever to see her texts and get it off the porch. 

Ana and Jo dancing their Elvis (Latin) medley. Ana was an alternate for their WWII (standard) medley, and since all the girls were in proper working order, she didn't perform that one this time.

 

Ana and Dallin in the Elvis medley.

Ana and Dallin swing dancing. Poor Dallin was wearing a short-sleeved white shirt for the first round, and then had to change to a long-sleeved shirt when they advanced. (Because the rules state you can have short sleeves in the first round but not the others, apparently.) The only long-sleeved white shirt he had was a tux shirt, and the only black tie he had was not a bow tie. (And black ties/bow ties are required, apparently.) Hence the unique combination you see here.

Ana bowing at the end of her samba routine.

Ana, Lilli, Braxton and Dallin waiting to see if they advanced in samba.

Rebekah helping to sew a bracelet together for the Elvis medley. We were put to work as soon as we got to the Marriott Center. We sewed buttons, bracelets, jackets and pants. And we ran back to the house where the kids were staying because one pair of Latin pants accidentally got left behind.

Andrea and Rebekah at the gravesite of Mark and Sally Fifield in the Evergreen Cemetery in Springville, Utah. One morning when we had nothing to do, we drove around to cemeteries and thrift stores. 

Andrea, Rebekah and Ana at the Marriott Center between Ana's routines.

Mason, Andrea and Rebekah in Provo after eating lunch together at K's Japanese Kitchen. Rebekah and I had already eaten there our first day in town, but when we asked Mason for a recommendation, he suggested this one. It was so good the first time, we didn't even let him know we'd been there until we were already at the restaurant.

Rebekah and Andrea at the traveling tabernacle replica. Mason told us that he would be volunteering there the evening after we had lunch together, so we looked it up and went the next day. It was a great exhibit. 

At the Monte L. Bean Museum. It seemed like it hadn't been that long since we last went, but I guess it had been a few years (2017).

Ha!

Rebekah at the BYU art museum.

Gem State, March 23-26

The great thing about this dance competition is that it's held in Idaho Falls. The bad thing about this dance competition is that it's held during spring break. But because we had already gone on a big trip earlier in the year, we just stayed around town and didn't feel too bad about having to be here for Gem State.

Both Ana and Miriam competed in this one. Ana's team placed 1st for "I Need You," 3rd for "Higher," 3rd for "Don't Slack" (their Latin medley adapted to be a jive for this competition), and 5th for their cabaret. Miriam's team places 1st for "No Excuses" and 2nd for "Everybody Talks." She also placed 3rd in Junior Bronze B foxtrot and 3rd in Youth Bronze B samba. 

Miriam keeping her eye on the camera while waiting to dance with her partner during syllabus on Thursday.

Miriam dancing.

Ana dancing with Dallin during syllabus on Thursday.

Twirly skirt.

Ana dancing "Higher" on Friday.

Ana walking her dog, Beelzebub, at the beginning of "I Need You."

Miriam dancing "No Excuses."

Ana dancing cabaret.

Ana's jive.

Miriam dancing syllabus on Saturday.

Dinner show, April 10

Every year the Bonneville ballroom team has a fundraiser where they serve dinner and perform for their fans. I served salad and then joined the rest of the family to watch our girls in the Bonneville gym. All the grandparents and Aunt Rachel's family were able to come.

Ana dancing "Higher." 

Ana dancing "Rainbow Connection" with the Mini Bees. The Mini Bees are elementary-aged kids who pay to attend weekly ballroom classes. The high school ballroom kids help with the lessons and dance with them in performances. 

Miriam dances "Everybody Talks" with the Stinger team.

Ana dancing her jive.

Ana dancing "Sticks and Stones."

Ana dancing her Elvis Medley. Seth was giving her a double thumbs-up during the routine, so after Ana noticed him, she found a way to work in her own double thumbs-up.

Miriam dancing "No Excuses."

Ana dancing "Gitchee Gitchee Goo" with the older Mini Bees.

Ana frozen during the opening of "I Need You."