After dancing for 15 years, I can honestly admit that I regret saying that I wouldn’t miss it. The friendships that were formed and the ways that I could express myself were not to be messed with. After graduating and finishing up that last recital many tears were shed. However as time went on, I started to realize what happens after you finish that last performance.
1. You start to miss the friendships
You’ve seen your teammates at each others worst. You can come into the studio crying and there will always be a hug waiting and a shoulder to lean on. The blood, sweat, and tears are no joke when it comes to dance. For a dancer, it is quite possible to laugh while feeling pain, because you are just around people who you don't mind embarrassing yourself in front of.
2. Whether you admit it, you actually miss the 4 hour Saturday practices
Preparing for a competition the next weekend, the high intensity practices were rough. On top of the normal 2 weekday practices, you just wanted to lay there on the sweaty floor and stop. However, you knew that the additional 4 hour practices were making you a better dancer, so you’d get back up and do it all over again.
3. You start to miss the whole dance family
Yes, even the crazy dance moms during competition season. Whether you come into the studio from having a bad day, walking off stage from a performance, or you are just visiting on break, you receive the best hugs from everyone around.
4. You catch yourself critiquing other dancers
You’re not trying to be mean, it just happens. You’ve silently critiqued the little dancers at the county fair and the college dance team more than a few times. The sentence, “that person should’ve pointed their toes” has probably came out of your mouth more times than it should.
5. You wish you could go back and do it all over again
The competitions, recitals, and practices were all worth it. You would go back and do it all over again, even if it was just for a 3 minute dance. Sharing your passion with the other dancers around you was the most amazing experience you could ever receive from dance.
6. When you visit the studio it feels like a social event
"Oh my gosh! I miss you" is such an amazing thing to hear from the younger dancers. Going in and watching a class, you're amazed to see how far everyone has come. The down side to visiting the studio is that you realize how out of shape you really are.
7. Dance has brought you amazing opportunities
Traveling to big cities such as Kansas City, Chicago, and New York City came with amazing experiences. Dancing alongside and being taught by Rockettes, Broadway performers, and other dancers who were finalists on "So You Think You Can Dance" created memories that you won't ever forget.
8. You eventually realize that you never fully stop dancing
You’ve danced down the aisles of the grocery store and in your room, basically anywhere but the stage. You’d give anything and I mean anything to be back on stage with everyone, even if it is only for a three minute dance.
