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How dance affected my life
Physical, social, emotional and cognitive outcomes of dance
How dance affected my life
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The summer between high school and college was a time of change for me. I had to adjust to new activities and priorities. In the April of my senior year I retired from the Springfield Ballet Company. Dancing had taken up almost all of my time and effort. When I retired I felt like I did not know who I was, and what I needed to spend my time and energy doing. While I was dancing I never had time for a job, so that also proved to be an adjustment. I was not sure how to go about getting a job, but I was sure that it was time to make that change. I got a job as a hostess at a restaurant. I enjoyed my job, but it did feel different than my commitments in the past. It was not nearly as challenging or entertaining. I knew I was entering a new
Since the age of two, I have been dancing. I have been involved in lyrical and classical ballet, contemporary, pointe, hiphop, jazz and tap. When I turned 6 I also took up gymnastics. Through middle school I danced, and did gymanstics as well as softball and soccer. I loved these sports but when high school hit, I had to pick one and I chose cheerleading. I chose this sport because it was not only a extraordinary team athletically but they were extremely involved with the community. We had fundraisers for less fortunate children multiple times and even got to interact with them every winter. The leadership role on the cheer team taught me so much, we lead the entire student body to have school spirit and respect at the football games every friday night. My senior year I decided to switch back to dance and tried out for my high school dance team, and made it! It has been such a blessing to me by showing me even more leadership and how to serve others at our school and in the community.
Fast forwarding to the summer of 2016, I took part in a two week dance program at New York University. At that point in my dance career, I had improved so much and dance had become my life.
I have to admit that I will not look fondly on my high school career. I spent most of my study time going out with my friends. I felt that I was paying my dues with the eight hours of boredom that began most of my days. Until now there were only a few classes that I enjoyed. In retrospect, I believe that it was my inability to choose the classes I took which resulted in my lack of enthusiasm on the ride to school each morning.
I started to behave differently than before. As I had dance in my life since I was 2, I knew to use it as an outlet. The way the body can release emotions in a healthy way is a beautiful thing. I found myself dancing at least 40 hours a week, and loving every second of it. on top of using dance as a release, I also had therapy. this introduced me to the beauty of the human mind. The realization that everyone is so different, yet experiences things so similar. This started my interest in psychology. I wanted to know why people felt the way they did and how certain situations can affect the human mind so intricately. Along with this, I wanted to start my research of those children with disabilities. As a human with no disabilities showing myself, I wondered how those with such disabilities as Down syndrome, and Autism felt when confronted with situations alike to my own. Once I started teaching children the beautiful outlet of dance, I learned about the mind inside. The movements they choose to do, and the energy put into it shows more than they understand
There’s always more to learn. However, my parents played a part in building my current identity by encouraging me to try new classes and activities. My mother told me to take a stress-reducing elective to balance out the busy and demanding core classes freshman year. I expressed an interest in dance, so I requested it. After two years of dance class, I learned what I was capable of and that I enjoyed providing knowledge to others. Having taken my mother’s advice, I discovered a new talent and a new hobby. Dance was another book on the shelf of artistry for me, but it also gave me the chance to make new friends and practice leading and teaching. While teaching classmates how to do pirouettes is rewarding, watching their learning pay off in group evaluations is even
Again in middle school, I took a dance class. I wanted to become a dancer very much. I learned ballet, hip-hop, jazz, and many other types. I didn’t have much skill in that area. I wasn’t as near as talented as the other girls, and the occasional guy. I quit after a year. I don’t have any regrets in that area, none what so ever.
Growing up I could never find another activity that I was talented at, enjoyed, and loved doing other than dancing. I have been dancing since I was three years old. I have taken almost every style of dance including ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, and contemporary just to name few. Dance was the one of the only things I spent my time doing. Between the solos, practices, and competitions I really just did not have time for anything else. I loved dancing but I always felt like there was something that I was missing out on. I always felt like I should expand my horizons and try something different. Unexpectedly, my junior year in high school I discovered my other passion.
Over the past fourteen years i have dedicated myself to something truly beautiful. These past years i have learned dedication, and perseverance through dance. Everyday i push myself to become the best i can. I have spent numerous hours in the studio, at competitions, and recitals. For the past fourteen years my life has been filled with bobby pins, the occasional ripped tights, and i couldn't be happier. I could say about seventy percent of my friends took dance class when they were younger, although only about twenty percent of them stuck with it. dance is an art that requires dedication, and heart. For some this may be a hard contract to sign. When i first held the barre it was love at first sight. i loved everything about dance, i loved
Last year had a huge impact on me. I made the decision to change dance studios. Although I've been dancing at studio 109 since I was three years old, I wanted a change. The reason for this was because of all the favoritism and the negative environment. I never wanted to go to dance, and it became a problem. I then pulled my hamstring in my duo and didn't end up finishing the season. They told me that I was faking it, so that's when I never went back. I wanted to try new things and have better opportunities. I wanted to improve my techniques and grow as a dancer. That’s when i made the decision to audition at Fusion Dance Academy in Dover. The thought of going to a new studio was nerve wrecking. I knew all the girls that danced there were incredibly
With this experience in mind, I hope to look into my future with an open mind about my success. I can still be successful and make it in society without having been number one at everything. ‘Making it’ does not always mean getting your way. If I would live my life always "winning", I would never have a challenge, a mistake, or a time to learn from. Finding something that makes a person happy is the best part about life. After my experiences with dancing, I have been taught many lessons that will play key roles in the hopeful development of my future. Now, I am on a quest for success, keeping in mind that making it in society as a successful woman does not mean being the best at everything.
The first being that I had to give up the other activities that I was participating at the time. Quitting basketball and karate was upsetting, but we thought that dance would be a better opportunity because I had natural rhythm and enjoyed dancing on my own at home. In addition, I was at the dance studio five days a week for two to four hours at a time. A few nights I would eat my dinner at the studio, in-between classes. I was disappointed that I could not enjoy dinner with my parents. I had to find time for homework as well and occasionally had to miss friend’s birthday parties, which was upsetting to me, especially at that age. Conversely, I had more confidence in myself by being given the opportunity to dance competitively. I was proud of myself for taking this chance to be on the team. I worked my hardest in rehearsals and practices to be prepared for competition. Mrs.Karen helped guide me through the dance classes. My mother’s excitement did not change, she was proud of me. It was a marvelous
Dance is complicated, it requires artistry and finesse yet strength and perseverance. It’s a paradox within itself. I started dancing at the tender age of 4, during my first year of schooling. It began as simply a recreational activity, something to occupy my time with, I only danced a few days a week and wasn’t very serious about it, it wasn’t a profound interest of mine. I still participated in the Nutcracker every year, this was a very large commitment however my relationship with ballet was very much on the surface, I didn’t want to pursue it as a career and was still exploring other types of activities.
I became a true dancer and proved something to myself that day. I had moved flawlessly because I felt the dance in my heart. Dance has stretched my physical abilities, given me tremendous courage, and helped me become a stronger person all around. I now feel I have more of the tools to embrace life’s challenges and better prepared for the next big step in my life - college.
By the time the end of my junior year rolled around I was ready to get away, so I enrolled in the Running Start program. I felt I had outgrown all that school activities had to offer and I wanted to just get on with my life. But as many teachers have clearly demonstrated over the last four years; you never get too old or too mature to have a little fun in high school. It took me this year to realize this. It was around homecoming that I started to feel a little left out.
There is a saying that typically goes, you do not know the value of something until it is gone. When I lost dance from my life for only nine months, it felt like a piece of me was gone. I think this is the first and most important thing to know before I begin this essay because it is why I do what I do and why I love what I do. In this essay I will be addressing my dance history, my life with dance, my goals for this year, and other information.