Elle’s First Dance Recital

A full-circle butterfly moment.

The week leading up to my daughter's first dance recital was busy — packed with extra practices, costume excitement, reading a book about being brave on stage that her Mimi gifted her, and lots of talk about the big day. By the time recital day arrived, Elle was ready in the way only a little girl can be: excited, a little nervous, and completely lit up by the magic of it all!

She put on her costume, wore makeup for the first time, and sat so patiently while we got her ballet bun just right. Before the show, we took photos at home with her dance friends to remember this season. The girls twirled, giggled, posed, and soaked up all the excitement together before stepping onto the stage.

Elle danced her tap number to Animal Crackers and her ballet number to Fly to Your Heart. She was nervous, but she did it. She got up there with her friends, danced in front of everyone, and learned that she can do hard things and still have fun while doing them.

The ballet dance was butterfly-themed, which made it especially meaningful. Butterflies have always had a special place in my heart because my dad used to tell me stories when I was little about a monarch butterfly named Buttercup. I've carried that tradition on with Elle through stories about her dear purple butterfly, Violet.

So seeing her on stage in butterfly wings felt like a full-circle moment I'll never forget. I looked over at my dad while she danced and could see the emotion on his face as I watched through tears of joy. It was one of those moments that held so much more than what was happening on stage.

Her first recital was sweet, emotional, and filled with moments I'll treasure forever. From her first ballet bun and a little stage makeup to dancing alongside her friends and finding the courage to step onto that stage, it was a milestone years in the making.

Before the details begin to fade, I wanted to save a few photos and memories from Elle’s first dance recital — a milestone I’ve been looking forward to since the day I learned I was having a little girl!