What Being a Dancer Has Taught Me

I have been dancing for almost a year and a half. I started small, with one hip-hop class per week, I then added ballet (something I’ve wanted to try since I was a little girl). Over the course of the following 8 months I went from dancing 2 hours a week to dancing 7 or more hours a week, with multiple ballet classes, hip-hop, character and even a little bit of jazz. It wasn’t until several months into taking classes that I actually began to call myself a dancer. I must admit, at first, I thought it would just be a fun hobby and a way to keep myself in shape. I’ve since realized that dancing has taught me many things that extend beyond the studio.

Pain isn’t always a bad thing. Whether you’re stretching in dance or letting go of something you’ve held onto for too long. It may be difficult, it may hurt like hell, but in the end you will be better for it. That’s not to say pain can’t be bad; there are different types of pain. There’s the kind of pain that is going to make things better in the long run, or the kind of pain that can cause damage; the trick is being able to tell the difference.

Just keep going. I can’t tell you how many times one of my dance teachers has told me ‘the audience doesn’t know what you’re supposed to be doing, if you mess up just keep dancing.’ Now I’m not saying it’s okay to mess up, I’m saying don’t let it show on your face and absolutely do not stop in the middle of a routine because you forgot the next step. This applies to everything, don’t give up just because things get hard, or because you have made a mistake. Everyone makes mistakes, that I can guarantee. No one is perfect.

It never hurts to be supportive. I only ever played basketball as a sport, I was always part of a team. When I began dancing I first thought of it as a solo activity, unless of course you’re dancing in a group. However, the dancers at my studio are so kind and supportive, we’re not just a team, we’re more like a family. We laugh together, we cry together and we dance together. The dancers themselves are not the only ones that are supportive; their parents and siblings are just as caring and encouraging, not only with dance, but also with life outside of dance.

Hard work pays off. Now this is something I’ve always known, but dancing has really emphasized it. With hard work and a lot of determination an awkward 5’7″ girl who trips when walking can glide gracefully across the floor in ballet. It’s what got me into the best shape of my life and it’s what will continue to make me not only a better dancer but also a better writer.

Always finish. It doesn’t matter how good you do if you give up before the end. In dance we always emphasize that when you finish it should be a statement. Everyone watching should be able to tell that you are done. Giving up partway through is never an option and honestly I don’t know why anyone would want to. There is a certain sort of satisfaction that you achieve after finishing something, it’s a great feeling that not many others can compare to.

Dancing has made me much more confident and taught me to take pride in everything I do. Through it I have come to know some amazing people and had the opportunity to be a role model to some of the greatest kids I’ve ever met. They daily inspire me to be a better dancer and a better person.

This is My Art

“Never apologize for your art.” Someone once said this to me after I read some poetry that I had attempted to write.  I’ll be honest, it was not very good, so naturally I apologized for the poor quality.  It was a complete stranger that said it which made it all the more powerful.  Since then I have been doing my best to take ownership of my writing.  Because, it is my art, it is how I express myself, and without it I would be lost.

One of my best friends recently told me: “The world needs your words.”  He has been extremely supportive of my writing, almost everyone has.  From friends to family to complete strangers.  So why is it I have such a hard time supporting my own writing?  I have had so much encouragement, both with my blog and with my novel writing.  Why can’t I see it as more than just a thing I do?  Maybe if I believed in myself a little more I would put more effort in and finally finish the book I’ve been working on for almost three years.

My Happy Place

People are always telling you that you need a good job.  But what defines a good job?  Most people would say how much money you make, but to me the best job is the job that makes you happy, the one that gives you the best experiences.  One of my favorite quotes is: “If you find a job doing what you love, you will never work a day in your life.”    I have had numerous jobs over the course of my life thus far.  But not a single one of them has come close to my summer camp job.

I first learned about this particular camp when I was about 7 years old.  It was the camp my father had gone to when he was a boy scout, and then worked at once he turned 14 or 15.  I am the youngest of four children, my sister, the eldest of the four, is 7 years older than me.  She began working at this camp when she turned 14.  Each of my brothers did the same once they came of age.  For 6 years at least one member of my family worked there.