Though most dancers believe they have a unique experience at their studio, most students who no longer practice dancing can all agree that there are a few things they all do, thanks to the world of dance. Every dance studio is the same, with small differences between them. They are all filled with girls and boys who are passionate about dance and were formerly filled with students who had a love for dance. Below are ten signs you may have been one of those students who had a passion for dance.
1. You find yourself stretching constantly.
Whether it is while watching tv or just relaxing, you will find yourself in either a butterfly position stretching your inner things or in a pigeon stretching hoping you can still master your splits.
2. You can only count to eight.
You learned your ABC's and to count to eight and may not have mastered any numbers of counting past eight, but you do know the multiples of eight in order to understand how long your dance is.
3. You still remember dance routines, even though it's been years.
When walking through the grocery store, you might hear a song from three years before you quit, but you still can repeat the entire routine. That goes not only for recital pieces but some Christmas dances as well.
4. The number of dance trophies outweighs the academic trophies.
If your studio was anything like mine, they pushed academics as well as dance. You will have multiple academic awards from school, but the trophies from the dance are greater than your school awards. This doesn't only count for trophies but medals and ribbons as well.
5. If you danced competitively, you still keep up with the pre-professional dancers.
Over the years of dancing competitively, you made friends with different dancers after seeing them multiple times throughout the year. You follow them on Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat and you all cheer each other on like a tiny dance family.
6. At school dances, you can't dance like everyone else.
While everyone else is doing the Wobble, Dougie, and twerking you are practicing your pirouettes, arabesques, pas de bourrees, and signature body roll that your dance teacher would be proud to see you rock.
7. Your Youtube history and Facebook are filled with dance videos.
Even though you quit years ago, you will always share photos of the good ol' days when you danced. Getting to see all of you and your friends when you thought you would be dancers forever. You also dive deep into youtube to find old videos of you dancing and eventually spend hours watching hours worth of other dancers routines to songs you once danced to.
8. Feet are your obsession.
Callused feet with missing toenails that have blisters from new point shoes are not seen as gross, but rather as battle wounds you wear with pride. Though you can't wear sandals during dance seasons, your friends and you bond over who has better calluses and bunions.
9. You still can master a perfect bun.
Your friends can't understand how your hair looks flawless in a bun when they struggle to make a perfect ponytail. Having to learn how to quickly make a stable hair bun that can last for 12 hours and 16 dances, taking the skills into the real world will always be something that you appreciate forever. As long as you can find a few of the million of bobby pins that you lost over the years.
10. You will always be a dancer at heart.
Having the urge to choreograph songs that you hear on the radio and watch your friends rock the stage, you know that you will always be a dancer at heart. Your passion and love for the craft will never fade no matter how many years it has been since you put on your tap or pointe shoes, you will always remember the love for your dance family even if you are no longer with them.
