My dearest Wendy,
As you approach your last recital as a teacher of DDDS, I thought it was only right to compose a letter to show you how large of an impact you’ve made on me and your other students that are so grateful for your presence. As a former student of Dianna Durkin Dance Studio, I can honestly say that you were one of the main reasons I continued dancing. Without your constant support, I would not be the dancer or person that I am right now.
Starting at the age of 8, I began to take hiphop lessons from the studio and was placed in your class. Over the course of ten years, you became more than the “scary” teacher that I took classes from each week. You evolved into my kind, caring, passionate, and dedicated teacher, mentor, and friend. Your class became my home for several years before I had to leave because of my graduation from high school. It was one of the few places that I felt I could ultimately be my true self without fear of judgment or criticism.
Without your class, I know I would not be standing here today as a confident, well-rounded and passionate student/family member/and friend to those around me. You taught me many lessons that no teacher had ever taught me in school. You taught me how to work hard even when the odds are against you. You taught me to never give up even when things seem impossible. You taught me how to be passionate and to always love what I am doing and if I don’t love it: don’t do it. You taught me how to be kind, friendly, and how to be a role model to those who looked up to me. You taught me that to be a good dancer, you must practice but to be a great dancer, you must have passion. I have carried that with me for my entire life. The list could go on and on but quite frankly, I don’t want this letter to just be a list of all the wonderful things that you have helped me become in my life.
Your years at Dianna Durkin’s will never be forgotten. There is no one that can replace you, your kind heart or your “funky walks.” You have set the tone for any hiphop teacher to try and fill your place. No one can do the roger rabbit like you or make students smile as much as you did. You believed in everyone and the things that they could accomplish. Without your constant push for me to be better, I would never have achieved my backwards somersault or my greatest accomplishment of being able to do the “baby.”
Thank you for always believing in me and my dance ability. Even when things got difficult in your life, you stood before us, smiled and taught us with as much passion as you did before. You are truly a light in this world and in my life. Your pool parties, difficult dance routines, and hour long hiphop classes each week will always be one of the highlights in my life.
As Wicked once said, “because I knew you, I have been changed for good.” This line was incredibly cliché but is ultimately one of the best summarizing lines to ever exist. Thank you for being my role model, inspiration, teacher, mentor, and friend. You will do great things once you leave Dianna Durkin's and we all can’t wait to watch you soar.
Love always,
Elizabeth Kikel.
