Many people can argue that dance is not a sport, but I would disagree. It can be competitive or non-competitive, but either way dance makes the same connections with an athlete as any other sport might. Dance can teach us just as much as any other sport.

As a dancer you learn precision, leadership, passion, teamwork, dedication, discipline, self-image, love, friendship, respect, and many more things. It makes you work hard and when all your hard work finally pays off it is the most rewarding feeling. Most importantly dance teaches us life lessons. After six years of dance I have taken these many lessons with me and they have created me into the person I am today. I would not have the skills I have today if it weren't for dance. I am very grateful for what I have learned and how dance has impacted my life. Here are some thank yous to everything dance has been to me.

Thank you for being the one thing I could look forward to at the end of a long school day.

Thank you for relaxing me in times of stress and allowing me to let off steam.

Thank you for teaching me how to be an effective leader and a team player all around.

Thank you for making me be patient, even when I did not want to be.

Thank you for showing me how important it is to rely on others because I can't do everything on my own.

Thank you for making me point my toes because to this day I still do it. Having my coach tell us to practice pointing our toes while we sit in class was one of the most helpful things I was told to do.

Thank you for allowing me to make great friendships with the girls on my team. We all shared a great love for dance, and it brought us together in a special bond.

Thank you for creating a positive self-image for myself because there will always be someone better than you, but you still have to be happy with yourself.

Thank you for showing me what respect for others and for the sport means. Respect can get you a long way in life.

Thank you for making me feel passion for something that isn't a living object.

Thank you for allowing me to grow within the sport and within myself throughout the years.

Thank you teaching me what dedication means and that caring about how your team learns is one of the most important things in dance.

Thank you for showing me that everyone is different and that you have to accept people for who they are.

Through all the years of dance shows, costumes, undergarments, makeup, hairspray, friends, backstage talks, and experiences on and off stage have taught me so many things about myself that I never would have known with dance. Thank you for helping me become the person I am today through the life lessons you taught me.