While not all of us get to pursue our childhood hobbies in adulthood, some things never change. Dancing is one of them; to grow up as a dancer leaves us with an experience like no other.
From the tight ballerina buns to the day-long rehearsals, there’s just something so special about dancing, about the way someone moves, and the way that people move together that creates everlasting friendships with others, but also your own body and mind.
While college is an amazing opportunity in so many different ways, one of the largest downsides to college is the inability to pursue multiple hobbies or activities as a result of a lack of time. Despite the fact that I danced through the last four years of high school, obligations to my sorority and academics inhibit me from joining another dance club or team.
However, once a dancer, always a dancer. So below, here are 11 telltale signs to remind you to never stop moving (because we all know that’s dance too)!
1. You have a playlist of songs that are “good to choreograph music to”. If you’re a modern or contemporary dancer, this list is composed largely of Indie Rock or Indie Pop, with the occasional Alternative Rock hit, such as music from Florence + the Machine, Coldplay, and Lorde.
2. Speaking of music, when you hear one of those songs that you’ve done choreography to, it’s the greatest thing in the world. Often times, you attempt to mark your way through your old choreography, and then fantasize about breaking out in to choreography in the middle of the dance floor like you’re in Step Up.
3. You struggle to count higher than eight.
4. And the word “and”, for all intents and purposes, is a number.
5. Just because you don’t dance competitively or regularly anymore, doesn’t mean you don’t slay on the dance floor. After hour after hour of rehearsal, dancing all night at a club or a bar is nothing.
6. The words “across the floor” still fill you with a sense of impending doom. It usually came after warm-ups, and before the good choreography began, so it was largely annoying and in the way of the real fun.
7. You’re not shy about changing in front of other people. Despite everyone else’s crazed idea that “backstage” is some magical wonderland, in actually it’s probably more like a broom closet with a couple mirrors and a chair if you’re lucky.
8. As long as we’re talking about changing, the back of the car as your mom sped down the road (because you’re late) is no big deal either. Then when you watched the wedding scene in the beginning of 27 Dresses, you were like “I’ve done that!”.
9. Speaking of backstage, eating on the floor is also cool with you. Because more likely than not, there weren’t any chairs backstage.
10. You laugh at people who cringe at their old yearbook photos. Because they have no idea.
11. Despite not having danced in ages now, you still fantasize about being a world famous ballerina (or the main protagonist of a Center Stage sequel)
