I don’t mind nights when the kids have a lot of dance classes in a row.

I don’t mind, that is, until I remember I have to make a meal that I can take with us to the studio. Something I can make hours ahead of time that can be eaten cold out of the cooler (because I’m not a fan of the microwave). Something that won’t be mushy and will give the kids healthy energy to keep dancing.

So now that you have all that information, you understand why people don’t usually cook for us ;)

But that’s beside the point. What is the point? That I’ve been creating a Pinterest Board of recipes that fill this need. Things my kids and I approve of that taste good out of a cooler.

(they also work well as meals to take to Disney when we time our fastpasses around a mealtime).

Feel free to follow my board and I’ll make sure I keep pinning new things I find. In the meantime, if you come across a perfect dinner that would work on this board, tell me on Facebook and I’ll give it a try! (I’m a huge fan of trying new recipes, so bring ’em on!)

It’s summer. Most of us are taking a breather from the chaos of dance schedules, though summer intensives and master classes keep us fresh.

It’s also a time when we may be preparing for a new experience in the coming year. Whether you’ve just moved to a new town (or part of town), are changing studios, or just have new teachers, it’s imperative that you do your best to make a good first impression.

That doesn’t mean being the perfect dancer. Obviously a new teacher wants to see what you know, but they don’t expect perfection right off the bat. What they will notice, though, is how receptive you are to feedback. If they see a teachable dancer, they’ll invest more energy into helping you improve.

It doesn’t matter how good you were at your last studio or in your previous class. You might have been the biggest fish in your pond. But you’ve started at a new pond, and it’s important to go in with a teachable spirit. Like it or not, the teacher will judge pretty quickly if you think you know everything before you walk in or if you’re there to learn. A prima donna will not get as much out of a class as someone who wants to learn everything the new teacher can give them.

One really important thing to keep in mind is that with every change, there’s going to be some overlap in your education, but there may also be some gaps. I’ve had numerous ballet teachers over the years, and though ballet has remained largely the same over the past decades (unlike, say, hip hop), every teacher approaches it differently and there is always new research into how the body works and how best to teach and avoid injury. Some classes I visited had different names for the same steps (e.g. degage/tendu jete), and last year I had to learn (and practice) the difference between coupe front and what I’d done growing up, sur le coup de pied. I could have continued to call them tendu jete instead of adapting, but I was there to learn and grow, not to show off. (I can guarantee my first ballet teacher would not have minded that I was trying new things and not just doing it the way she taught me without shifting).

Change isn’t easy. But if you go in recognizing that it will be a learning experience, you’ll come out stronger and better prepared for the next transition!

What’s your favorite part (or least-favorite part) of a new experience? When was the last time you trained under a different teacher? I’d love to hear your stories on Facebook or Instagram.

Sometimes we get amazing ideas in our heads for photo shoots, but we get stuck on where we can actually pull them off.

Here are a few of my favorite (FREE) places to take pictures around St. Cloud and Kissimmee.

at Lake Runnymede Conservation Area

Downtown Kissimmee has beautiful painted murals in several places. The soft colors aren’t distracting and make excellent backdrops.

What’s your go-to location for photo shoots? Have you gone to any of these? I’d love to get your thoughts on Facebook or Instagram!

Dancing in shows

Festival of the Lion King (Animal Kingdom): This is the first one I think of when I think of dancing at Disney. The birds take the cake, but the whole team of dancers is absolutely amazing. My daughters are both dreaming of someday being dancers in this show.

Bongos (Disney Springs): Absolutely incredible salsa dancing with a live band. I had a blast watching these talented dancers!

The current schedule:
from Wednesday through Sunday
Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday: 6pm-10pm
Friday and Saturday: 6pm-11:30pm

Beauty and the Beast Show (Hollywood Studios): There is fantastic dancing all the way through this show, including a great kick line.

Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire (Magic Kingdom): This show in front of the Castle has some fantastic dancing in an assortment of styles, including some awesome tap dancing.

Guest Participation Opportunities

Marketplace Fountain (Disney Springs): There’s a splash fountain next to Earl of Sandwich and Once Upon A Toy that has a dance party in the evenings (it’s not listed on their website so I can’t vouch for it being nightly, but whenever we’ve gone there it’s been happening).

Harambe Wildlife Parti (Animal Kingdom): This show feels like a fun celebration as much as a dance party. The music and joy is contagious!

Move It! Shake It! Dance and Play It! Street Party (Magic Kingdom): This parade/dance party is a really fun chance for everyone to slow down and use muscles we don’t always use spending the day at a theme park.

Anything I’m missing? What’s your favorite place to see or participate in the dancing? Join the conversation on Facebook or Instagram!