Growing up as a competition dancer was arguably the best way I could have imagined growing up. No, it was nothing like you see on Dance Moms (my teachers were kind, supportive, and encouraging people and our moms actually liked each other and all of us). Pyramids aren't a thing (as they shouldn't be) and I wasn't one of those kids who was homeschooled so I could spend 30 plus hours in the studio a week. That being said, here are 10 things that are true if you grew up as a competition dancer, and 10 things that I now miss almost every day since I've become a ~narp~ (non-athletic regular person).
1. "I can't; I have dance."
I spent most weeknights doing homework in the car, eating a quick dinner, and then dancing in rehearsals and classes until 9:30 every night. Weekends were spent in master classes, make-up rehearsals, at competitions, at conventions or at recitals. I missed out on a lot of sleepovers, parties, and school events because of my commitment to my team so much so that saying "I can't I have dance" became a regular phrase in my vocabulary.
2. Unexplainable bruises
Wood floors, awkward partnering, inevitably falling every once and awhile, and tricky floor work typically don't add up well. I always left the studio with a new bruise or two, usually in weird shapes and in weird places. But bruises meant I was working hard (or messing up) but practice makes permanent and I was proud of each bruise I acquired. You probably also had one too many pairs of ripped tights due to aforementioned falling/floor work.
3. Your studio became your home.
If we're being honest, I absolutely spent more time at the studio than I did at my own house (which my mom wasn't too fond of). The big mirrors, worn floors, and dependable bar were my sanctuary. I did homework in the lobby, sat in the back room with my friends, worked at the front desk, and helped teach classes. The studio is more than a studio, it becomes your home. Though I grew up, the studio never changed. The familiarity and comfort of those four walls will stay with me forever.
4. You always find yourself improving.
Whether it's in the grocery store, in the kitchen waiting for your food to finish cooking, in your room, or shopping at Forever 21, you probably find yourself moving your feet to whatever music is playing or listening to new music and picturing how you would choreograph to it, or making up funny dances/poses to your current routines.
5. Costume week was a gift from God.
There is truly nothing more exciting than hearing the songs you'd be dancing to for the season and seeing what costumes you would get to wear on stage. When the costumes arrived and the teacher opened the box you were probably overwhelmed by the colors, fabric, and sparkles. The little kid inside of you couldn't wait to put it on and see how it moved when you turned.
6. Conventions
At least once a season, your team would travel to a convention and spend the weekend in classes taught by the best in the industry. As a kid, you definitely didn't appreciate the classes and probably complained of being tired and physically exhausted, but the older you got the more you loved them. Competing at night was always a mess, you probably performed as late as 1 am (which meant there were way too many delirious Snapchat stories) and then were expected to be up and ready for scholarship auditions or a "wake-up rally" at 7 am.
7. The sweet smell of competitions
Walking into a competition is the same every time. You probably walk into some high school and are immediately overwhelmed by music blaring from the theater, the endless apparel being sold in the front, and the mass amounts of people practicing routines in the halls or stretching with their instructors. Walking into the dressing room you definitely see someone crying, half naked people everywhere, and some girl yelling at her mom. And you can recognize the undeniable smell of hairspray, lipstick, new costumes, old shoes, and sweat from a mile away.
8. Your ~rituals~
Before going on stage, everyone has something they do to mentally prepare. Our studio used to stand in a big circle and squeeze each other's hands down the line. I know girls who had specific warm up routines they followed every single time, who ran their routine 10 times in a row, or who had to drop in a split as their number was being announced. I always prayed that I wouldn't forget my routine and listened to my solo song on repeat for hours before competing. I also always carried the same stuffed animal and chewed gum before every performance.
9. Your teacher was your mom
At my studio, I worked with the same teachers every year. Our competition director, in particular, stayed with me from the ages of 8-18. They watch you grow up, they know more about your life than your own mom does, and they are there to hold you up on your worst days. They support and encourage you and always want the best for you. You see them more than your own family. Their voice becomes ingrained in your mind and you probably can still hear them counting out the music when you listen to an old competition song. And you definitely can still hear them reminding you to pull up, point your feet, and telling you that practice doesn't make perfect, it makes permanent. When I go back and visit my own studio, seeing my old teacher always puts the biggest smile on my face.
10. Your team becomes your family.
Just like your teacher, you work with the same team for years. They don't watch you grow up, they grow up with you. They share more inside jokes and memories with you than anyone else. They remember the bad costumes, the good dances, and even the ugly backstage moments. They are your biggest fans and they will always cheer you on, regardless of the one time you messed up on stage and cried about it for 10 minutes. They are what I miss the most about being a competition dancer and they are the people I am the most proud of. Stay rad ladies, you inspire me every day.
