After dancing for 16 years, I have dealt with a lot: recitals, competitions, wins, losses, injuries, and change. Throughout the years, I was instructed and taught ways to perfect my technique and performance abilities. However, dancing has taught me some major life lessons that I will carry with me for my entire life.
1. Teamwork
When you are working with a group of 20 girls, personalities are bound to clash. Having good teamwork is very important because everyone there has the same goal. Everyone wants to succeed and perfect a routine. Without good teamwork skills, nothing would get accomplished.
2. Dedication
The skills you learn at dance aren’t things that can be perfected after one class. Dance takes time and dedication. Classes are taken to perfect everything. New skills are always being created, so attending classes daily will only better your abilities. Any time spent practicing only makes you stronger. I can’t count the amount of times I would be doing a routine down the aisles of the local grocery store.
3. Treasure your friendships
My dance team and studios were like my families away from home. Since dance is so time consuming and most of your free time is spent with your fellow dancers and instructors, bonds are bound to be made. The girls and instructors were always there if I needed them.
4. Confidence
Performing on stage in front of friends, family, and complete strangers really has taught me to be confident with myself. It has taught me to not care what others think of me and to just be myself. It really taught me to believe in myself and that I could do anything I set my mind to.
5. Winning isn’t everything
There were definitely times where my team may not have received the outcome we were hoping for. However, we all knew that we had given everything we had to the routine and left everything on the floor. I will always be proud of my teammates for the effort put into our routines. It just showed that there are times where you won’t get what you want, but you should always be proud of what you had done.
Dance has taught me some great lessons. It has also made me the person I am today. Without dance, I’m not sure if I would have as much confidence as I do now. Although I don’t dance nearly as much as I used to, dancing will always be in my blood. I am and always will be a dancer.