Is Dance right for YOU?

So, I'm not going to lie... I think I am a pretty firm dance teacher.  Firm, as in, "one last time" is never going to be the last time, the music will get stopped if the dancers aren't really focusing on their movements, and I'm quick to say "It's getting there" rather than pour out compliments.  I also feel like I'm an understanding teacher.  I let the dancers warm themselves up when I know I'm going to be asking a lot of them during their routines, I am compassionate to those that are struggling on bad days (because I mean, who doesn't have a bad day every once in a while that throws a wrench in everything?!), and I give out praise when praise is earned.  And I also think I'm not the normal dance teacher... even though I don't think a "normal" dance teacher exists.  I won't let the emphasis of technique go by the wayside, I invest a tremendous amount of time and energy into each and everyone of my dancers, and I don't always play is safe with choreography... I pick songs that aren't always in the Top 40, I pick out costumes that I think fit the vision of the dance, I always try to highlight the dancers in their own spotlight and strengths, and I don't always follow a "sure win" formula for choreography.  Here's some examples...

•  we dance with props... and props could go horribly wrong on stage, or they could be showstoppers
• we have danced and competed with a spoken word piece... something very tricky and hard to pull off
• we are now tapping to different rhythms and beats overlapping each other.  Judges and audience members may hate it... they may love it.
• we cover issues like acceptance of who we are and how God made us, bullying, raising our confidence as girls and young women, having an opinion and the right to stand up for our beliefs and our bodies, so on and so forth

We cover these sensitive subjects because I feel that dance is an art and form of expression first.  And art, is a reflection of life and the world around us.  Which is a pretty phenomenal thing if you ask me.  How brilliant that we have an art form that uses our bodies and movement as the medium?!  You can't get much more personal of an art form than that!  And the thing I LOVE MOST about art is this...

Art, because it is a reflection of our surroundings, our feelings, our communities, our issues... it's for us, human beings.  Dance is one of those marvelous things that you don't have a be a certain thing to appreciate it, to enjoy it, and to partake in it.  Dance doesn't care how much you weigh, what your grades are, where you go to church, who your bff is, how many presents you receive at Christmas, where you live, what race box you check on forms, and if you are lactose intolerant.

Now with that being said, I understand everyone connects and relates to certain groups more than others.  Here's some little tidbits about me (if you were wondering).  I have faith, but you won't find me checking in on Facebook every time I go to church.  I have a daughter, but you won't see me posting about the trials and tribulations of raising a toddler.  I am a wife, but you won't see me writing mushy, gushy p.d.a's to my husband.  I have political views, but more than likely won't tell you who I voted for.  Why?  Because I feel as if somethings are personal and not social.  I will have a lovely conversation about any of these things to your face (if you decide to strike up those discussions) but not on your Facebook because I respect everyone's right to choose how they live and I don't judge anyone on their affiliations.  I do take notice of peoples actions and draw conclusions from that tangible evidence.

Life is much more complicated the older we get and all of us have to find the things that push us forward.  The things I listed above of course direct and propel my life onward but when I look around at the world and wonder how can I contribute to the greater good, one thing has always stuck out to me.  I love to dance, choreograph, and teach.  And I can go on and on about the positive attributes dance brings to ones life outside the dance room and off the stage but I would like to think my unwavering approach to dance education some what mirrors life...

"Today was good, buuuut I spent way to much money at the mall"

"Today wasn't good because I let my emotions get the best of me, buuuut I'm determined to stay focused tomorrow"

"I want to lose 10 pounds. I'm at 9, so I can't count that a victory just yet, but the goal is in sight"

Can't we all relate?

The thing I really want to push home here and for you to understand is this... dance is a little biased to one minority... hard workers.  Opportunities in dance often require something else: a push, an unrelenting motivation, laser-beam focus, and persistence... something that always looks like hard, sweat producing, "disappointed I didn't get it the first time", push through the pain, work!  Again, here's me gushing about how wonderful dance is but its truly an miraculous entity because what you put into it, you get out of it.  If you are willing to push your ego, insecurities, and fears aside and let dance mold, touch, and teach you a thing or two you begin to see it is much more than a class.  It's an investment in you as a person (or your child).  Its a lifelong journey where you remember much more than the dance steps.  It's this wonderful thing when you look to the right and left of you... you meet friends from other family structures, from other schools, from other churches and somehow you all come together to create art!  To push each other to be the best versions of yourselves.  Everyone is welcome at Legacy Dance Project to come and discover the joy of dance in a judgment and drama free zone.  Where the students are the focus, technique is the emphasis, and dance is an obsession.