23 Nisan

April 23rd is the big Children's Holiday.  School hardly gets started in September before classes start preparing for their Children's Day performance.

Noah participated in first and second grade, but he's pretty much over it now.  The girls, however, are a totally different story!  They LOVE the opportunity to wear the beautiful costumes and do the traditional dances.

Justin and I agreed that this was our best 23 Nisan yet.  We found out ahead of time when the girls would perform.  So instead of enduring the way too close, standing forever, push fest, we just hung back until Lucy performed.  Her class was about mid-way through, so the crowd had already begun to dwindle a bit.  Callie's class was dead last, so we could stand where ever we wanted to watch her perform.  Otherwise, we just sat on the side in the shade.  It was great!

Here are some pictures from the day.  Get ready, there are a lot!!

My little village girl.

Lucy says she is going to marry this little guy.

Sisters from a village out east.

Callie getting lined up with her friends from class.

Audience shot

Lucy's class getting lined up and ready to perform.

The boys getting things started.

Lucy in action.

Now it's Callie's class's turn.
The boys strut their stuff first.

Callie and her friends lined up waiting for their turn.

Here comes Callie!

Fast Feet

A traditional local instrument.

Callie and her friend after their dance.

At the very end of the day, the folk dance teacher joined the kids on stage.
Then everyone started to join in.  It was such a fun end to a lot of hard work.

I know he was thinking "when on earth are all these people going to quit dancing.
My hands are tired!"

Callie and her teacher.