With the close of summer--approximately 4 months in length--returning to classes can seem like an impossible feat. Well, if you attend a school with a dance program, you see for yourself the exhaustion we face. Personally, I am in 8 classes and have a minimum of 4 classes each day. Don't ask us how we're feeling--we make it visually obvious. Here are just a few struggles of back to school as a dance major.
1. Waking up sore.
Waking up after the first few days of classes seems like an impossible task. Rolling out of bed consists of a minimum of 3 cracks, moans, and groans. But yet somehow we get up and keep going back, day after day.
2. Academic classes.
As dancers, most of us probably didn't take summer classes or spend our time reading (sorry teachers). The only thing we probably did is dance or watch dance videos all summer. So getting back into having homework and actually having to form thoughts can be a daunting task--on top of having to be able to manage dancing as well.
3. Storage.
You think you have a lot of stuff in your dorm room? Visit a dance major's and I promise you'll be impressed. With dance shoes, leotards, tights, and all other forms of dance apparel, we have it all plus our normal clothes.
4. Finding time to sleep...and eat.
I know personally there are days when I go straight through 5 classes with no breaks. I barely have time to grab a sip of water and breathe between classes. And with the physical demand of being a dance major comes some extreme fatigue. So finding time to sleep is super important as a dance major, yet it seems we don't have time between balancing classes and homework to sleep--or eat for that matter. Staying properly nourished and hydrated is of utmost importance as a dancer--yet again, as a dance major, time is precious.
5. Laundry.
Coming back from summer, laundry was a breeze. However, now we're back to changing our clothes more times each day than seems possible. The hamper fills up so fast you wonder where it all came from.
6. Buns.
If your school requires ballet classes, you know the most important part of dress code is a neat, tight bun. However, after months off from school (and dancing occasionally, if at all during the summer), getting your hair back up into that perfect bun can seem like an impossible task.
