JabbaWockeez? *shriek!!!*

Desiree and I walked into Culture Shock Dance Center and one of the gals in Desiree’s class runs up to her, grabs her by shoulders and whispers, “The JabbaWockeez are here!” I thought she was joking but apparently they really WERE there, dancing inside the studio that the kids usually have their class in. How lucky were we they that the doors were glass. The girls were all excited and giggly, literally swooning in their presence. Desiree asks me to go back to my car to get her yearbook and her camera. My initial thought was, “Seriously? Walk back to the car that’s parked waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay down the street??” which, luckily, was countered by my next thought which was, “All your talk about getting in shape and exercising more and you can’t walk down the street a little ways?” So, off I go to get her stuff for her. How could I deny my girl, who was practically jumping out of her own skin with excitement?

I get back, hand Desiree her stuff and one of the girls in Desiree’s class asks me, “Is your friend’s sister really married to Rainen??” When I nodded, she replied, “Ohmygodsheissolucky!” and I swear to you that I think she wanted to hug me just for knowing Rainen’s wife. I had to chuckle. I guess I’d feel the same way if I were to run into Johnny Depp or Orlando Bloom. Just imagining THAT encounter sends my heart a-pitter-patter!

The kids asked Nicole, the center’s manager, if she thought the guys would be ok with signing autographs and/or taking photos. Nicole goes in to ask them and comes back out, telling the kids to go wait in the other studio and the Jabbas would be in there in 5 minutes to see them. *shriek* and off they go into the other studio. That didn’t stop them from peeking out every two minutes to see if the guys were ready to come in to see them. The other parents and I just smiled at one another as we sat in the hallway.

Two of the guys come out of the studio they were rehearsing in and walk into the studio where the kids are. I hear Phi say, “Hi, guys!” and the kids *SHRIEEEEEK* and he says, “Wow, did we scare you or something?” and *giggles* Wow. Can you imagine getting that kind of reaction everywhere you go? Exciting but, at the same time, exhausting, I would imagine.

Sherman, the kids’ instructor, arrives and tells the kids to go back into their original studio to get their autographs and photos so that they could begin class.

Everyone swarms around Rainen inside the studio so Desiree took the opportunity for some “alone time” with the other guys in the other room. She asked them to sign her yearbook, which they were kind enough to do. Phi actually took the time to ask Desiree what her name was so that he could personalize his autograph for her. He asked her what grade she was in and if she had started summer vacation yet. Soon after, the other kids were there getting autographs from the rest of the guys. Desiree barely catches Rainen as he was leaving to ask him to sign her Vans. She asked Phi to sign her other shoe. The guys tell the kids to have a good class and are gone. The kids were floating on cloud nine for the rest of the class. As I watched, I couldn’t help but notice that they seemed to put a lot more effort into their dancing for Sherman that class.

As we were driving home, Desiree says to me “I couldn’t breathe when they were there, Mom, I was so excited. I think my favorites are Rainen and Phi. They are so cool. Too bad I didn’t have a chance to tell Rainen that we know Auntie Belle.” Eh, that’s alright. I’m sure another opportunity will present itself another time.

I’m sure most, if not all, the kids taking the Teen Hip Hop class were inspired by the JabbaWockeez. I was so pleased that the kids had the opportunity for this chance encounter with them. I was glad that, even though they looked exhausted, the Jabbas took the time to sign autographs and take photos with the kids. They really are an inspiration to a lot of people out there. I think I have to also give them credit for returning my appreciation for hip hop.

Me, Twanks and Liza will be attending our Hip Hop Cardio class tonight and I think I will dance a little bit harder, in honor of the JabbaWockeez. Yee-yah, boy-ee!

Oh, and this picture is for my sister, Twanks. Her future husband, Ben. (hehe!)