{"id":986,"date":"2012-05-07T01:28:43","date_gmt":"2012-05-07T05:28:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.moore-images.com\/blog\/?p=986"},"modified":"2012-05-07T07:39:19","modified_gmt":"2012-05-07T11:39:19","slug":"the-end-of-an-era","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.moore-images.com\/blog\/2012\/05\/the-end-of-an-era\/","title":{"rendered":"The End of An Era?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

May the 4th<\/sup> is commonly known as Star Wars Day, \u201cMay the 4th<\/sup> be with you\u201d is how fans commemorate the day.\u00a0 However, I will mark May the 4th<\/sup>, 2012 as the day my oldest, De\u2019Lawren Campbell, concluded her 12-year dance career.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

She started as a six-year old first grader taking a few lessons at a local dance company, DanceMakers.\u00a0 \u00a0The following year they asked Deborah if she could participate in their new competitive line.\u00a0 The company had competitive lines for their older girls.\u00a0 However, they were starting a line for the younger ones and wanted her to join.\u00a0 This led to more dance classes after school and a career dancing competitively throughout the nation.\u00a0 Deborah and I spent many weekends traveling from Virginia to New Jersey watching her in regional competitions.\u00a0 Every competitive season was punctuated with national competitions in either Orlando, Las Vegas, Myrtle Beach, and Panama City Beach.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Deborah heard about a program at Suitland High School dedicated to the performing arts. \u00a0We went to a meeting where the staff described the curriculum requiring students to carry the normal course load as well as study their artistic craft. \u00a0Initially reluctant to go to this school far from her neighborhood, De’Lawren agreed to give it a try. \u00a0She had to audition with a solo dance piece. \u00a0They selected her and she continued to dance competitively as well as at school during her freshman year. \u00a0As she settled into her new school, \u00a0and established new friendships, we informed her we were moving to England. \u00a0We let her finish her freshman year because of her involvement at Suitland.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

We looked for opportunities in England for her to continue dance. \u00a0She took a few lessons at the famed Pineapple Dance Studio–they have their own reality show in the UK. \u00a0However, she developed athletic interests in volleyball and basketball instead.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

We were concerned where she would go her 11th<\/sup>\u00a0grade year when the family returned to the states. \u00a0The rigorous Suitland program does not allow students to enter after their 10th<\/sup>\u00a0grade year.\u00a0 Nevertheless, when she returned from England, she auditioned again and was able to return for the 11th<\/sup>\u00a0grade. \u00a0However, she no longer wanted to dance competitively. \u00a0I wouldn’t miss spending weekends at competition events but, I would miss the national ones. \u00a0They were always interesting.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n

Now a senior at the Center for the Visual and Performing Arts at Suitland High School, she wants to hang up the dance shoes.\u00a0 She spent three of four years studying dance at this school.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

She developed a love for volleyball while in England and that appears to be her new passion.\u00a0 She began during her 10th<\/sup> grade year and has continued and is currently on a countywide team.\u00a0 Her mom and I would love to see her continue and have asked her to reconsider her decision to stop dancing.\u00a0 I hope she takes a class or two just to maintain that muscle memory.\u00a0 However, our children have to blaze their own trail.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

She heads to college this fall and no matter what endeavor she chooses she will be successful.\u00a0 She dedicates her time to getting better in all she does and I look forward to watching her volleyball skills grow as well.<\/p>\n

More of her dancing can be found on Facebook.com<\/a><\/p>\n

-Roger (a.k.a. Daddio)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0 May the 4th is commonly known as Star Wars Day, \u201cMay the 4th be with you\u201d is how fans commemorate the day.\u00a0 However, I will mark May the 4th, 2012 as the day my oldest, De\u2019Lawren Campbell, concluded her 12-year dance career. She started as a six-year old first grader taking a few lessons […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0},"categories":[3],"tags":[205,203,206,204],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t