Being a dancer means you spend countless hours with other people and you're expected to dance as a unit and move together. This is harder than expected because you might not know these people. Over time, you develop a unique bond that cannot be fully understood by people who aren't dancers. Let me try and explain....

Dancers have their own terminology and, yes, we fully understand what we mean by the "rolly thing" or "that jump with the leg." We are the most supportive yet selfish people there are. Of course we love watching our friends get recognized or receive an award but we are always kind of wishing it was ourself instead. Dancers don't have to live near each other to connect or have a relationship. Sometimes the people you meet at out of state festivals and conventions become your long distance fam. Dancers trust each other, not only with secrets, but with catching the body they just flung at you.... please don't drop me! We dance but not just when we're being judged. Forget about when we're on stage.... I'm talking about in our room or down the aisles at Walmart. Dancers understand that when we say we are stoning it's not what it sounds like. And dancers get so close they can fill the roll of your brothers and sisters. We talk to each other about anything and everything, and when the going gets rough, we all stand together and help.

As a family, we might not be perfect..... actually, I can promise you we are far from it, but we know each other like the back of our hands. We are always laughing at jokes or looking back at memories like we have all been together since birth. I love my dance family and I hope it continues to grow with me.