If there’s one thing I miss about my dancing career, it’s the recital. I had one recital a year. That seems like so NOT a lot, but it is. It was the second Saturday of June at 2 p.m., at The Tarrytown Music Hall. We started practicing for the recital in the beginning of January, so it was a very big deal. I would get so nervous before the recital. Last season, I couldn’t sleep for days and even had to stay home from school because my stomach was cramping too much. Since I took a higher amount of classes than anyone in my studio, I was usually in about sixteen or seventeen dances per each two-act recital every season. People would always ask how I memorized so many numbers, but it comes naturally at this point I guess. My mom would tell me how all the other parents must think I’m obnoxious because I was front and center in basically every other dance. I don’t really care though, because odds are I worked harder than any of their kids did. With all these dances come a LOT of quick changes. You’d think I’d be used to them - but they still got me pretty anxious. Imagine having less than thirty seconds to take off your jumpsuit, slip on pink tights, put your hair up in a bun, jump into a leotard, put on a tutu, change from tap heels to ballet slippers, and snap in a headpiece and bobby pins into your tight bun as you run to your position onstage. It’s pretty nerve wracking. However, I certainly miss this adrenaline. Everyone backstage was pretty helpful. I usually ran back there to gulp a few sips of water down my throat as they would all help change me. I know that sounds weird, but it’s what had to be done. All of us older girls get the dressing rooms underneath the stage because it’s easiest and most private. I would get there almost two hours before curtain call so I could reserve my own corner and lay out all my endless costumes, shoes, and accessories. I loved walking all the little girls in after they would say goodbye to their parents (who are never allowed backstage). Right before the show started, I would go upstairs to visit all my students’ dressing rooms for endless hugs and ‘break a legs’.. The recital is pretty hectic; there are a lot of mishaps, like little girls who go too crazy with lipstick or careless older girls who ‘forget’ which side of the stage to start on. Nonetheless, I love and miss the buzzing of being backstage. After the show was over, i felt like a celebrity. Everyone recognized me from being in every dance- so a lot of families would come up to talk to me. After the recital it was a tradition for my whole to team to come over for a pool party. It was also a tradition that we jump into the pool wearing our ugliest costume. Recital day was by far one of my favorite days of the whole year. I can’t believe right now I am talking in past tense about this experience. I can’t believe that this past June, I took my final bow on that stage. There’s no words to describe how the experience of dance changed me. For all of you high school dancers, please treasure recital day. It’s not the same as competition day or picture day or anything like that, but it’s recital day and it’s special.