Growing up, I spent countless hours in the studio. There were days when homework went undone and plans with friends had to be set aside because dance was the priority. But now that I’m “retired,” was all of that time wasted? Absolutely not. Sure, the height of my grand jete and the amount of pirouettes I can do are irrelevant now, but I learned much more than technique and routines in the time that I was a dancer. I was taught lessons that I carry with me every day.
1. Keep going.
I was told to never make the “uh-oh” face and to fake it until I got back on track with the music if I ever messed up or forgot a section. In life, there will always be critical people that are anxiously watching for you to slip-up. I don’t give them the satisfaction by persevering.
2. Being original is important.
I can still remember specific dances from competitions that made my jaw drop because they were so out of the box and intriguing. Usually, those numbers were the ones that received the most awards.
3. How you take criticism can make or break you.
When I first started dancing, I would take it really personal when my dance teacher would correct me, but I eventually realized she was only trying to help. Now I look for constructive criticism because I know that once I apply the critiques, I will be better than I was before.
4. Be respectful to everyone.
“Yes ma’am” and “no ma’am” were critical in responding to my teacher, but I also had to respect other dancers. This showed me that how I treat others directly affects how successfully we get things done together.
5. Don't do it unless you're passionate.
Judges and my dance teacher would always call me out on dances that I didn't appear passionate about because I wouldn't try as hard. In life, I've noticed that it's critical to commit to things I only truly care about because I enjoy these commitments more and tend to do better.
6. Smile.
Dancing for hours and hours would make me exhausted, and smiling was last on my list of things I wanted to do. But because stage presence is so important in the dance world, a smile was a necessity while performing. Outside of dance, it's important to remind myself to smile because it makes others around me happier and, in turn, brightens my mood as well.
7. There is always someone better than you, and that is okay.
There was nothing worse than watching a 6-year-old put my dance to shame at a competition, but it taught me that I can only offer my best so I should strive to always improve. (But, seriously, are those types of kids jete-ing out of the womb or something?)
8. Mistakes happen.
I realized that there was no reason for me to beat myself up over something that already happened, like forgetting five eight-counts onstage, so I decided to just take the path of learning from my mistakes and moving on.
9. Be sure to make eye contact and connect.
At competitions, it was SO important to connect with judges in order to have good stage presence. The ability to make eye contact and interact with other people is something I utilize every day.
10. Great things come from great effort.
No award-winning routine came without blood, sweat, tears, and more sweat.
11. You can’t be everyone’s cup of tea because there are always people that simply don’t like tea.
Opinions differ from person to person. I have had judges that loved how I performed, and I have had others that were harsh, to say the least. I’ve learned that it’s impossible to please everyone, and all I can do is be the best version of myself.
12. Don't half-ass anything.
My director never allowed a dancer to perform a routine if they wouldn't give a number their all because she didn't want her studio to be associated with laziness. What's the point of doing something if it isn't your best, right?
13. Know how to work as a team.
Dancing as a team required perfect synchronization, even when the people I would perform with were very different from me. I think that this helps me with group projects in college because I often have to work with other students that have differing backgrounds or views as me.
14. Be confident in yourself.
Learning how to be proud of what I have to bring to the table is my favorite lesson learned from dance. My confidence not only affects how others see me, but it also affects how I perceive myself.
