There is a certain connection you have with people who also grew up as dancers. They understand the countless hours you have spent cleaning the same couple of eight counts, that across the floors were the way you warmed up before an hour of practice, the gallons of hairspray you used for each performance, that rush of packing up all your costumes for a competition day, that the term "full out" means it's go time, the many times you have argued with someone about dance being a sport, and that addicting feeling you get the moment you step on a stage. For all my retired dancers, here is a list of what the dance days have left you with.
When you see a hallway, you can’t help but want to dance across the floors. It looks like the perfect place to sashay and leap.
Grocery stores drive you nuts because you have to abide by social norms and not whip out a turn sequence on the perfectly slick floors.
You can’t comprehend when people don’t know how to do makeup, especially fake eyelashes. People think it’s rocket science; you, however, can do it in less than a minute with no mistakes.
Music reads to you differently. When people ask what your favorite type of music, your answer isn’t pop or rap or hip hop, but rather anything you can dance too.
Your car isn’t just for singing when you're blasting your music on full volume, but also choreographing hand movements at every stop light.
Your friends look at you funny when you randomly bust a move. It can be in line at the movies, eating a meal, whatever it may. If it comes to you, you're going for it.
When a song comes on and you start dancing, and your friends ask if you practiced those movements. You have to explain it just comes to you, so it doesn’t look like you plan all of it out.
Dancing at clubs and parties limits you like crazy, and it drives you insane. You have to tone it down to a couple steps, hand through the hair, and shaking the booty a little when you really just want to go full out in the middle of the dance floor.
You love whenever you get to show off your old talent. No matter when, if there is a chance to do a couple second turns or a leap you are all in.
Spankies, booty shorts, whatever you may call them. They are still to this day your go-to comfy bottoms. (No, athletic spandex are not the same and do not suffice.)
Halloween is the time to pull out all your old dance costumes and put them to good use. They are custom made with a million rhinestones and will out shine your Party City outfit any day.
You still are going to take that arabesque picture on the beach and have no shame doing so.
People think you are crazy when you freak out over a song you had a dance too. “OMG this was my competition jazz song in the 2nd grade!” And yes, you still remember the moves.
You know that practice makes perfect, and you have applied that in every aspect of your life.
You love having that close knit group of girl friends. You had your different teams and company numbers, but you all danced together. It was a friendship and you know how important those friendships are.
You take control of anything that has to do with a performance. It's a certain adrenaline that will never go away.
Lastly, you realize dance is a part of you. Even if you aren't taking studio classes, competing every weekend, or performing at your highschools pep rally, dance will always play a role in your life and you wouldn't want it any other way.
