I'm not the official photographer for the CNDC, so even though I did take my camera to the event, I didn't sit there with my long lens hoping to snag a few shots.  I sat there as a parent... watching my kids' every move, enjoying every single beat of their dance.

Some moments are un-photograph-able if there's such a word.  And I found that most of the moments were just that.  Made to be taken in, enjoyed and admired.  

However, there was this ONE moment, when Gabriela and her friend, Shannon.  This was my view of them as they watched the numbers before them, ready to go on stage and perform.

I've never been more proud of my kids than I have been this weekend.  Not because of their many GOLD medals, Trophies and placements, but because they found a passion, developed a skill, and were not afraid to show the world. Their ranking wasn't the goal.  The goal was to get up there and not be afraid.

Their goal was the path, not the medal.  The medals help, of course, but more than anything they're the reminder that if you work hard enough and have courage, you can do anything.

There's another thing that I'm very proud of and I'm not afraid to say it: I'm proud of their dance school, Kickit Dance Studio, for having such dedication to all of "their kids", committing to teaching them the highest standards of performance, and most importantly: conduct.  When you're in a venue where kids from all over Winnipeg are competing, you see that not everyone behaves the same way.  Not everyone is polite (though many were indeed!) and not everyone is taught the same technical standards.  But one thing that really stood out was that some schools dress their kids inappropriately.  

One number that really stood out to me was this tap solo by a little girl who couldn't have been older than 10, from another dance studio, whom I had heard was an amazing tap dancer - so I was looking forward to seeing her.  She came on stage carrying a prop that looked like cell bars and her song was Jailhouse Rock.  She was wearing the shortest shorts with huge frills sticking out of the back of the shorts (like a can-can dancer), short top showing midriff, and very suggestive sensual moves that would make anyone blush.  She got second place.

I don't know who to blame: the dance studio for allowing that kind of performance, the teacher who choreographed the dance, the girl's parents who agreed to have their child look like that, or the CNDC who rewarded her with gold anyway...

All I can say is thank you Kickit, for dressing our kids appropriately and choreographing their dances according to their age as well.