Response to the Dance Parent

From a Dance Parent:

One of my friends asked "Why do you pay so much money and spend so much time running around for your daughter to dance ?" Well I have a confession to make: I don't pay for my daughter's dance lessons. Or her pointe, Jazz & tap shoes. Or her hundreds of costumes. So, if I am not paying for dance…what am I paying for? - I pay for those moments when my girl becomes so tired she feels like quitting but doesn't.. - I pay for the opportunity that my girl can have and will have to make life-long friendships. - I pay for the chance that she may have amazing instructors that will teach her that dance is not just about movement but about life. - I pay for my child to learn to be disciplined. - I pay for my girl to learn to take care of her body. - I pay for my daughter to learn to work with others and to be a proud, supportive, kind, and respectful team member. - I pay for my child to learn to deal with disappointment, when she doesn't get that score she hoped for, or fell during a move she has practiced a thousand times, but still gets up and is determined to do her BEST next time... - I pay for my girl to learn to make and accomplish goals. - I pay for my daughter to learn that it takes hours and hours and hours and hours of hard work and practice to create a champion, and that success does not happen overnight. - I pay so that my daughter can be in the studio instead of in front of a screen... I could go on but, to be short, I don't pay for dance; I pay for the opportunities that dance provides my child to develop attributes that will serve her well throughout her life and give her the opportunity to bless the lives of others. From what I have seen for many, many years, I think it is a great investment! Author : S.Martin

Ever since I saw The Nutcracker at age 5, I knew I wanted to dance. I wanted to wear a tutu, to dance on my toes, to move…dance allowed me the opportunity to do all of those things. But along with my great dance milestones, I learned how to live my life. In the end, it wasn’t about the costumes, the pointe shoes, or even about the professional stage, it was about finding something that made me passionate and made me a good person.

As I read this script from S. Martin, I couldn’t help but smile because his points only hit on a few of the lessons dance has taught me...

I’ve failed but developed resiliency to keep going.

I’ve made life-long friends who I connect with on a regular basis.

I’ve had the most amazing mentors and teachers who have taught me so much more than a plie.

I learned how to take care of myself, to manage my time, and to always pack an extra set of dance attire.

I have learned that hard work and many hours can yield great success.

Even now, as I have transitioned into teaching my own students, I hope to instill these lessons in them, just as dance did with me.