I was thinking today... I REALLY miss dance. Dance has been such a huge part of my life ever since I was two years old. It completes me, and it gives me the opportunity to express myself in such a unique and empowering way. Dance not only is an amazing work out (for all of you who don't consider it to be a sport IT IS...trust me), but it helps me cope with every day struggles, such as stress. It helps me through the bad times and creates that light at the end of the tunnel to reach towards. It helps me simply have fun when I need to release some energy and have a good time. It helps me put every bit of emotion into each vein in my body, from every finger tip to each and every toe nail. All in all it helps me feel... well, normal.
Dance has always been such a normal part of my schedule. My high school career looked like this... wake up, go to school, go to play practice, straight to dance, and homework late at night if I didn't pass out before it was finished. Somewhere in between that schedule I managed to fit in songwriting, singing, piano, clarinet, church, school clubs, work, and hanging out with friends to help me feel sane. I actually didn't have the time that I wished to spend with my friends because I was so busy. This I feel now was definitely a blessing and a curse, but I also had a family at the Spring Lake Theatre (where I danced). Spending hours on end with the same people in a fun yet structured environment allows you to connect on all sorts of levels, and we did! We laughed, we cried, and we fought, but most importantly we all loved each other and helped each other get through life. This is something that I wouldn't trade for the world, and I loved all the girls that I grew up dancing with.
Dance also helped me come out of my comfort zone. Each year I exuded more confidence than the year before, and became more and more comfortable on stage performing in front of people. There is always a challenge to overcome, and always something new to learn. I've always had problems with insecurities like most people do, but dancing helped me overcome these insecurities. I became more precise, expressed more emotions, gave attitude, and as my friends like to joke around about more seductive (in better words more comfortable with my sexuality) haha. Every year since sixth grade I traveled to NYC to dance at the Broadway Dance Center. When my dance teacher came up to me when I was 11 years old presenting this opportunity to me I'm not going to lie... I was SCARED as hell, but I was all for it. I wanted to do it so badly that I rushed home to my mother and begged her to do it. After a lot of thinking she finally agreed, and I was off to the big apple! That week I experienced the hardest, most intense week of my life, but I was addicted I just HAD to do it again. So I did! Just by going to NYC to dance every year helped me realize that I am capable of succeeding in high stress, uncomfortable situations, which helps me with every situation in my life. When I come across a situation that it is difficult for me to deal with I just tell myself "You went to NYC by yourself.. without your mom.. when you were 11 years old.. and danced with some of the most famous and intense teachers in the world... you can do this."
In the end, I learned so much about myself through dance. I was able to engage myself in another creative outlet, which only made all of my other creative outlets stronger. I learned how to choreograph, properly exercise, stay healthy, and most importantly learned how to devote myself to discipline and hard work. Dance is one of my passions and it always will be, and I can't wait to continue to take classes and choreograph for my Belmont shows and functions. I want to end this blog with one of my favorite dances to one of my favorite songs.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRrBdU-ztO8&NR=1&feature=fvwrel
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