Tutus, Twirls and Taps
If you see me rolling on the ground in 2 year old ballet at 9 months pregnant, it's because I'm passionate about what I do.
I have taught dance for four years and if I could make it a full time career, believe me, I would. There's something sweet and humbling about helping little girls into their first ballet slipper and showing them they are so capable of walking across the floor with grace and poise. Or teaching an older dancer a new skill and seeing the light bulb finally turn on. Since our classes are packed with warm-ups, giggles, across the floor and choreography I don't usually get to tell these young girls everything I want them to hear.
I have taught dance for four years and if I could make it a full time career, believe me, I would. There's something sweet and humbling about helping little girls into their first ballet slipper and showing them they are so capable of walking across the floor with grace and poise. Or teaching an older dancer a new skill and seeing the light bulb finally turn on. Since our classes are packed with warm-ups, giggles, across the floor and choreography I don't usually get to tell these young girls everything I want them to hear.
So here goes.
Dear young dancers,
Please never stop dreaming. Never stop dreaming that one day you will be the beautiful princess dancing on the big stage. You are capable of so much and will go so far. But only if you keep dreaming the most wild dreams. So please never stop dreaming.
Please love yourself. You are talented. You are strong. You are able. With your tutu just so and your head held high, you are the most beautiful thing I have seen. You're beautiful because in that moment you love you and love what you do. You don't have to have the smallest leotard in the class, the most perfect bun or the highest leaps. Please love yourself because you are YOU.
Please be yourself. With all the makeup and smiles we ask you to put on, it might be hard not to be swept away. BUT DON'T. You are the most you I know and I would hate to lose that. You are joyful. You are curious. You are unique. Please don't dance like the hundreds of other girls at the convention - they are not you. Put your personality into every movement you do. Let you shine through and be yourself.
Please trust and listen to me (and your other teachers for that matter). We have your best interest in mind. We have been there and thought that. We know you are having a tough time learning the choreography or perfecting that skill. You can do it. We wouldn't trust you with that level of difficulty if we didn't think you were capable. Also, don't think we don't see you. Yes, you. Hiding in the corner. You are valuable to us and while you may not get a solo yet, trust us.
Please keep going. You have been blessed with a beautiful gift and some people will try to convince you otherwise. DO NOT LISTEN. You will be challenged, pushed, tested and stretched. It is well worth it, my friend. I am here to walk with you through those challenges and build poise, confidence, grace, dedication and discipline. You will not gain these things if you quit. You must keep going.
Please don't forget that I above all else, I will always be proud of you. Just because you threw a fit in tap class, you didn't land your turns or missed platinum by a few points, you will always make me proud. As you grow older and move out of my classes, I will always cheer you on from the audience. You will always hear me encouraging you. Please don't forget how proud I am.
Now that I'm older and not performing as much, dance is not necessarily my passion. My dancers are my passion. I love each and every one of you and dream that one day you will be as passionate about a crazy group of girls as I am.
With all of my love,
Ms. Teacher
Ms. Dance Lady
Ms. Cami
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