It is safe to say I grew up at my dance studio. Spending 14 years of my life taking class there has helped shape me into the person I am. How many people can say being in a leotard and tights feels like second skin to them? If it was not for my dance teachers and the people I have danced with, I never would have learned some of these important lessons.
1. Have respect for others
One of the first and most important things dance has taught me over the years is to respect others. I have assisted with teaching dance for many years and one of the first things we tell the students is that everyone has different strengths. Just because a certain move or stretch is easy for you, it may be more challenging for your friend. This lesson is important both in and outside of class.
2. How to focus
If you are not focused in dance class, you have no idea what is going on! The more attention and focus you put into class, the more you will get out of it. Now when you are in class with all of your best friends distractions happen often, but that's where your teacher comes in :)
3. To have respect for myself and my body
If you do not respect yourself, how can you expect others to respect you? Dance has taught me to be kind to my body and to love myself. No matter a dancer's shape or size, you can look graceful.
4. To have fun
Not that dance class is not fun when you advance to the higher levels, but class between ages 3-5 is pretty freaking awesome (teaching the class is almost as fun). There are parachutes, bean bags, hula hoops, and freeze dance. As you get older, learning new tricks, and acquiring new skills is just as fun.
5. To be myself
My dance studio is one of the places I feel most accepted. I have never had to pretend to be something I am not when I am there. It is such a supportive and comforting environment.
6. What it means to be happy
My dance teacher often told us to leave everything at the door when entering the studio. Especially when going through the middle/high school years -- we all have a lot going on. Coming to dance class was the place I could forget, or try to forget, about everything else that was going on and just worry about dancing.
7. Responsibility
When I started high school, I was given the opportunity to assistant teach classes for younger students. I learned so much over my four years of assistant teaching. I learned what it meant to be a role model and have someone look up to you.
8. The meaning of true friendship
Dance friends are a special type of friend. I went through some really tough times with my girls and they were one of my strongest support systems. We had dinner together every Thursday night in between classes and it was my favorite time of the week. I spent more time with them than I did at home. We grew up together and loved each other for what we were.
