For the 16 years I have lived on this earth, I have spent more than half of it as a dancer. The studio was always my second home. I was there almost every day after school, rehearsing choreography for a grand recital at the end of the year. Through all the recitals, injuries and friendships I've made, my experiences on and off stage have taught me not only how to be a professional dancer, but also about how to better prepare myself for the future. These are just some of the lessons I learned.
1. Time Management
Sometimes, it just feels like dancing never ends. Dancing five days a week, managing going to school full-time, teaching dance classes and having a social life isn't easy, but I can thank dance for my amazing time management skills. I was able to learn how to fit everything into my schedule while putting in my best effort.
2. Hard Work and Dedication
Being a dancer takes a lot of dedication and hard work. There is no such thing as skipping practice to hang out with friends or to go to an event. Dance always comes first, meaning, I miss out on a lot of things, such as church lock-ins, football games and Beyonce concerts. But the thing is, I don't regret missing certain high school parties or hangouts, because instead, I was dedicated to something I loved to do.
3. Discipline
If you have ever seen a dance movie before, I'm positive that you've seen the cliche ballet class scene with the strict Russian teacher who enforces crazy rules and regulations. And they aren't totally wrong. At most studios, you are required to dress a certain way and follow certain rules. It may seem ridiculous for an "extracurricular activity," but it teaches discipline and organization.
4. Perseverance
I am a firm believer that if you haven’t taken a pointe class, you don’t understand the true meaning of perseverance. Imagine standing on a block of wood on the tops of your toes for an hour while simultaneously trying to remember how to incorporate basic ballet technique. Painful, right? Here's the catch -- you can't just sit down and complain because you need a break. You have to suck it up and keep going. Even when you feel like your feet can't take anymore pain, you will remember that by pushing through, it will be worth it.
5. Team Work
Solos are not the only thing that dancers do. Most of the time, we have to work with others in group pieces. Group dances are hard, whether there are 20 people in one piece, or just two dancers. There will be opposing views, because everyone is her own individual with her own techniques and styles. However, group pieces are about everybody working together as a unit, not just as a group of many individuals. From working with all different types of people through dance, such as drama queens and shy, quiet thinkers, I have learned to think about others rather than just myself.
6. Passion
"Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance. Great dancers are great because of their passion." - Martha Graham
Dance has taught me what it means to truly love something. Having a passion for something gives you motivation to try and try and never give up. It can be challenging to stay true to something, but when you're passionate about it, it's worthwhile. I wouldn't have been able to spend endless hours in the studio and in rehearsals if I didn't love dance as much as I do. Dance has shown me how important it is to do what makes you happy -- if you don't, you may never truly live your life to the fullest.
So, think about this today. Who cares if you aren't the best at something? Instead, do something that you love doing and defines who you truly are. Who knows? Maybe, you might learn a thing or two along the way.
