Dancing Nanas -

Saturday I took my four year old granddaughter to dance camp. I had no idea what I was in for. When we arrived Abby was excited…until she walked in the gym and saw how many girls were there. There must have been 150 to 200 future Rockettes dancing around the gym. Whenever Abby is frightened or in this case intimidated by something she lets you know it.

“Nana, this is NOT my favorite,” she informed me. I knew what she really meant was, “I’m not sure about this.”

I told her not to worry we would just watch. They divided the little girls into groups and Abby’s group was the youngest there. My brother is fond of the expression “It was like trying to herd cats.” Watching the teenage dance instructors work with those little girls was a good illustration of that expression.

The instructor is talking and the little girls really listening well. Can you tell? — The instructor is talking and the little girls are really listening well. Can you tell?

I convinced Abby to at least stand in line with her group, but I had to stand behind her. She stood there like a statue with music blaring and little girls jumping and dancing all around her. Thinking I could help loosen her up I took her hands in mine and watched the instructors. When they raised their arms, I raised Abby’s. When they turned around, I spun her around.

About two girls down the row I noticed someone else was doing the same thing. It was a neighbor and friend of mine who is also a nana, Diana. We looked at each other and laughed.

“This is hard work!” Diana said.

I wiped the sweat off my brow. “I agree. I’m not sure I can make it three hours!”

“Me either,” she said, as we spun our little dancers around.

Thankfully Abby and her grandaughter, Aubrey, decided they were having fun and started dancing without us.