1. Wearing old costumes out

Admit it, at one point or another you've worn a piece of an old costume out to a themed party. Whether it was a headpiece, a leotard, or fishnet tights, the costumes you've acquired over the years come in handy every now and then. You're hesitant to get rid of even the most embarrassing costume in fear that you will one day need it.

2. Your friends asking to borrow old costumes

You've probably had friends say, "Hey, I'm being a dancer for Halloween, can I borrow your tutu/leotard/ballet shoes?" If you were still dancing you'd say no way, but since you really don't have any use for them anymore it's not that big of a deal. You die a little inside when they post a picture on Instagram holding a certain position with horrible technique.

3. When someone asks you to break out a dance move at a party

I cannot tell you how many times I've been out and one of my friends has said, "Hey, you used to dance, show us some moves!" For some reason I feel 100x more awkward dancing at parties than I did on stage. All those years of dancing with control and good technique are hard to forget, even after a couple shots.

4. The weird looks you get when you crack your bones.

This happens to me whenever I crack my ankle and it sounds like someone popping bubble wrap. This is usually preceded by looks of disgust and horror from those around me. A lot of times when my hips crack people look at me expecting more of painful reaction, but it's something that happens so much I hardly notice anymore. Dance is hard on your body, and even though you no longer do it every day, your joints still get tight and need to be cracked frequently.

5. Nudity isn't that big of a deal to you

The dressing room at dance has left you completely insensitive to nudity. There are probably times when you and your dance friends have had a full out conversation while partially naked. Quick changes also play a big role. When you have two minutes to change your tights, bra, shoes, costume, and hair, clothing comes off no matter who's around. Your roommate was probably a little surprised the first time you whipped your bathrobe off to change mid-conversation, but you probably didn't even think twice about it.

6. You always save the day when it comes to clothing malfunctions.

You've dealt with enough broken bra straps and torn costumes to be prepared for any situation. You always have a sewing needle, safety pins, and body glue nearby for those quick-fixes. And if not, you're good at improvising.

7. You can get ready more quickly than all your friends

People always ask how I find so much time to do my hair and makeup every day. This is probably the most practical skill that years of dance have taught me. You learn to do your hair and makeup quickly when you have only a few numbers to change from a dark smoky eye to a neutral one, switch from red lips to pink, and change your entire hairstyle. So, boys, former dancers will always look good and we won't keep you waiting long.

8. Hearing a song that you once had a dance to

You get hit with a wave of nostalgia every time you hear a song that you danced to in the past. Chances are you still remember a bit of the choreography after running it a million times in rehearsal, and you have to resist the urge to break out into pirouettes wherever you are.

9. People are always weirded out by the things you can do

My roommate is really freaked out by how hard I can point my toes. She always says that it's not natural for someone to be able to bend their feet that far. When people see old pictures of me doing a tilt or needle, I get the same reaction. It takes years of stretching and practicing, but it isn't all that abnormal to bend your body that way.

10. "So, are dance competitions really like 'Dance Moms'?"

This show makes me so angry! Personally, my studio was nothing like "Dance Moms," and I don't think most studios are. They're so focused on their publicity for the show that the important things, like having fun and doing your best, often get forgotten about. Yes, competitions can get, well, competitive. But I've never witnessed an argument at one because most dancers (and their moms) are supportive and nice to everyone performing.

11. When you tell someone that you got a gold and they think that you won the whole thing.

That's not how dance competitions work. Getting a gold isn't like the Olympics where only one person wins. Every competition is a little different, but usually you can get silver, gold, high, gold, platinum, and sometimes double platinum. Considering this, gold isn't all that great.

12. You miss it more than anything.

You would give anything to be able to attend one more dance competition and do what you love one last time. When you look back on all those years, you don't remember the scores or what special awards you received, but you're always going to cherish the time you spent doing what you love with people that you love just as much.