Last weekend we attended Golden Spike Days, a yearly festival held not too far from where we live. One of the highlights every year is the Golden Spike Can Can Dancers. The ladies really are a hoot, and their show is great. We never miss it.
All the same watching the dancers I’m always struck by the humour of the situation. This act would have been considered scandalous or highly risqué at one time, and now it’s family entertainment. My family vies for a spot on the grass with all the other families and strollers. Little kids yell and dance and clap as the ladies high kick. It’s funny how things change. It makes me wonder what my own great grandchildren will co-opt as a summer festival act.
My daughter Hannah has seen the can can dancers perform every year since she was born. Now that she’s coming up on 4 1/2 she looks forward to seeing them each year. She knows they have the fanciest outfits and the best dance moves. These are all things that Hannah wants for herself. She dreams of being a can can dancer. She asked me the other day if she could join the group once she was ‘all grown up and in kindergarten’.
Sadly not, Little Miss Hannah. I think you have to be in at least grade 3.
Hannah did get a chance to try on some can can clothes and pose with the dancers this year. Twice. I’m pretty sure she would have gone back a third or fourth time if it had worked out. They had feathers for her hair, boas and dresses. My kid was in her element. Oh, the glitter and the glamour of the can can outfit.
Hannah even asked me to make her a can can dress of her own. But all those ruffles scare me. Plus I recently made a dress for Hannah and after slaving in the heat to sew it she told me she didn’t like it. Putting in the effort for a can can costume is so not happening, but I admire her chutzpah in asking me. That sort of chutzpah will serve Hannah very well, should she actually become a can can dancer one day.
In the meantime she’s doing a lot of practicing at home. And let me tell you, you want to clear the floor when a 4-year-old starts high kicking. She has enthusiasm, but so far she’s still working on her finesse. If you’re not careful she could totally take your eye out. 
Those are pretty cute pictures. Perfect for when you want to embarass her as a teen.
Emma has had 1 black eye from knee meeting face while performing such a high kick!
LOL How cute!
Aw, so cute!!! With my daughter it’s ballet (and all the fancy schmancy costumes that go along with that). The spins she tries rank right up there with kicks as far as “back away or you’ll be injured” goes, lol
She can start a troupe with my 2 year old Lucy – I’ve been singing this song to her since she was a baby “P.U. Poopie Pants, went to the South of France, because she wanted to learn how to can can dance– But P.U. Poopie Pants didn’t learn to can can dance, because she didn’t want anyone to see her underpants” There’s a chorus, too – I’ll spare you… I probably should stop singing it during poopie diaper changes now that she can actually understand what I’m saying!
Hannah looks so cute with the dancers!
Funny, I was at a rehearsal for a Can Can tonight. (Although our number is 1840′s style, when it was a (wild) couples dance and not yet a chorus girl number.)
If she keeps asking and doesn’t forget about wanting a dress, you could potentially have her wear a leotard and make/buy a simple circle skirt. One colored ruffle on the inside would probably be fancy enough.
I just LOVE this – those last pictures of Hannah nestled deep in piles of paint box ruffles are classic. Her expression in the first of those two cracks me up! My dad did a directed a vaudville show in Vernon when I was a kid featuring (now belt this out with a raspy, throaty voice) A. Red. Hot. MamafrommmmLumby. In a stunning red can can dress. Red Hot in Lumby! How I wanted to be her.