For many families, the start of June means the start of dance recital season, and things can get a little hectic, even downright ridiculous. This is my 17th year being a part of this madness at my old studio, and I'm questioning how in the world I've been able to live through all of these things for this long.
1. You have a million and one dress rehearsals to deal with.
2. You might have to miss school for some of them.
3. Some of your costumes no longer fit you.
Even though they did two months ago when they came in.
4. No matter how many packs of bobby pins you buy, you'll lose most of them and will need to get more.
It's an endless cycle, honestly.
5. Then you'll find some of the ones you lost six months later.
6. You go through two or three cans of hairspray in a week.
7. Glitter ends up on everything you own.
And it's impossible to get off.
8. Your acne is horrendous because you're constantly wearing makeup.
And sweating buckets while you're wearing all of it doesn't help.
9. You have to get used to switching hairstyles every few minutes even though your hair is crunchy from all the hairspray.
Ponytail, to half-up/half-down, to low ponytail, to high bun...
10. Teasing your hair is a nightmare.
11. So is curling it.
12. You wear five layers of clothing whenever you're not in costume.
Camisole, tights, leotard, pants, a top, and probably a sweatshirt.
13. Convertible tights are your best friend.
14. So are laundry baskets.
15. And deodorant.
16. And obviously water.
17. You live off snacks backstage.
18. Mirror space is your top priority in the dressing rooms.
If you don't get there early enough, have fun with your tiny hand mirror.
19. You become a master at quick changes.
One twenty-second filler in between hip hop and pointe? No problem.
20. Dance moms are the bane of your existence.
I swear they get nastier every year.
21. You might forget part of your choreography.
22. Or you might forget the entire dance.
23. You're too lazy to fully redo your makeup if you have multiple shows in one day.
Just cover up the smudged makeup by reapplying all of it!
24. If it's a year when you receive an award you feel pretty special.
25. Until one of the teachers mispronounces your name when you accept it.
It doesn't matter how long you've been a student there, it still happens.
26. Calluses.
27. Bloody feet.
28. The horrible condition of your feet in general.
29. Your cheeks hurt from smiling too much.
30. Your entire body hurts from dancing and stretching too much.
31. The moment the very first recital starts and you couldn't be more excited.
32. The moment the very last recital ends and everyone is hysterically crying. Especially the seniors.
"I've never seen so many people crying in one place before." -My mother at the end of my last recital ever.
33. And the moment you realize you still have finals to get through, and you haven't been able to study for any of them.
The stress continues!
