Growing up as a dancer, you quickly learn that our normal is different than everyone else's. Anyone who is or was a dancer will understand these problems and for any non-dancers out there that don’t know what us dancers go through, read on.
1. “I can’t…I have dance.”
Oh yes, a few words that us dancers know all to well. Unlike other sports, dance does not have a set season. Our season is always. Don’t even think about asking us if we want to simply go to the mall spontaneously on a weeknight. We either, A. Have dance, B. Have dance later, C. Are too tired from dance or D… have something else most likely dance related. As dancers, we make these small sacrifices and sometimes miss out on “normal people” activities, but it is what we love to do. Dance is our passion and we would pick learning a contemporary combo to Adele over a trip to the mall any day.
2. Off-beat clapping, off-beat anything.
You know what I am talking about. It makes you cringe. It’s practically in our blood to count music and stay on the beat, and apparently this is not an inborn human trait that everyone has. It starts out subtly. Music starts playing and one person begins with the terrifying offbeat clapping, and right before your ears it’s an offbeat clapping fiasco and your on beat clapping alone stands no chance. It’s just one of those things we cannot win.
My best advice? Just chop your ears off when this happens.
3. “You’re a dancer, show me some moves.”
Yes, we may be able to do a triple pirouette with perfection and effortless grand jeté but if you ask us to “show you some moves” which is often in public while we are likely wearing body-movement-restricting clothes, you are bound to get a blank stare and an awkward jive if you’re lucky. We don’t just “dance on demand” contrary to popular belief. You don’t ask a baseball player to hit a home run out in public so why do people ask a dancer to perform jaw-dropping moves on request? Unless you play Beyoncé; this is the one exception where in fact you will actually receive a full-on, full-out performance. Trust me.
4. Moms, dance moms.
You may be familiar with the controversial American reality television show called "Dance Moms," and if you are not, it is basically a show following the lives of a few competitive dancers at the Abby Lee Dance Company accompanied by their non-stop bickering mothers. Although "Dance Moms" showcases a rather extreme side of the “dance mom phenomenon,” it is oh so real and most likely happening to a dancer near you. Almost any dancer has dealt with or experienced first hand a so-called “dance mom.” Just when you think it won’t happen to you or your studio, dance moms will rise and they will evolve. This is a phenomenon that is hard to explain as well as avoid.
And don’t think I have forgotten about you dads. I have seen some sassy fathers in my day quarrel over a trophy.
Dear dance dads:
We know who you are and we’re watching you.
5. Hearing a song of a favorite routine in public.
Imagine that you’re a die-hard dancer if you are not already. You’re sitting in public, minding your own business, and all of the sudden, that Britney Spears song comes on that you just learned a fire dance combo too. What do you do?
You mark the heck out it. All of the sudden, you forget you’re in public and attempt to kill the floor section while people are slightly uncomfortably staring at you. As dancers, when we hear a song of a favorite routine, there is no choice but to surrender to the music and somewhat try to perform it.
This occurrence is much less strange if you are with a fellow dance buddy who knows the combo as well. This way you can flail your arms around and mark alsicones together with utter confidence.
PSA: If you see a dancer making weird movements to a song while you are eating lunch with them, please just let them be. It is nothing we can control.
6. “Dance is not a sport.”
If you want to get a dancer to immediately hate you and start a verbal World War with you, say those five words. It is incredibly frustrating that despite 10 million reasons concluding that dance is a sport, some individuals choose to belittle the art of dance and the amount of work that comes along with dancing and argue that is not a sport. The official definition from Dictionary.com of a Sport is “an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature.” Well, folks would you look at that! Dance is an athletic activity requiring skill and physical prowess and is often of a competitive nature. People chose to overlook the ample hours rehearsing as well as the amount of sweat, tears and yes, blood that goes into this beautiful sport. You may not think this is a big deal to us dancers and in the grand scheme of problems it isn’t, but just save yourself the embarrassment and frustrated response and don't ever say it! Ever. Just don’t. We thank you.
7. Wearing full stage makeup/hair out in public.
Oh, what a joy it is walking into a local restaurant with your dance squad in false lashes, hairspray plastered hair and bright red lips. I lie. It is not. We might as well print off a sign that says “we are dancers and we just came from a performance and didn’t have time to take off our makeup. I swear this is not my day to day look” to avoid all of the jaw dropping and weird judgmental looks we may sometimes get.
Oh well. We’ll continue to stick our chins up and own the bold, too-much-makeup look (or at least try).
8. Joints? Bones? I’m not familiar.
It is no secret that competitive dancing can be harsh on the human body. We may look like normal healthy people but this is merely an illusion. Don’t be fooled or frightened by the all so normal occurrences dancers face. Bruises are second nature. Skinned knees and feet, the norm. Cracking hips, backs, anything? 100 percent. Inability to walk the next few days after a long weekend of rehearsals? Yep. This may sound unpleasant, but for the most part, we’re used to it and in an extremely weird way, it is a satisfying reminder of all our hard work.
Oh, feet you say? Yeah, well dancers can only dream of callus-free feet.
9. It’s showtime.
Probably the most amazing incredible problem a dancer will have. Yes, Showtime is one of the most stressful, nerve-wracking times in a dancers life. Knowing all your hard work has led up to a 3-5 minute performance releases an array of emotions. However, above all, it is also the most unexplainable, greatest feeling being able to dance in front of people to your fullest without a care in the world -- except falling out of the turn sequence of course. The initial feeling you get when you take place on stage seconds before you dance is unlike anything else and is simply euphoric. Executing a perfect routine is a dancers version of touchdown, touchdown celebration, and everything. Performing full out for those few minutes, in front of a crowd or not, make the countless (sometimes dreadful) hours of dance all worth it.
