After dancing relentlessly for 15 years, I had to exchange my ballet classes for college classes and trade pointe shoes for textbooks. This sacrifice left me with a lot of free time and a lot of time thinking about all dance has left me. Dance gave more than a need to crack my hips as loud as I can at any given time in the day or the urge to do a plié every time I have to pick something off of the ground. Dance has made me into who I am today, so, dance, this one is for you.

Dear Dance,

I miss you when I hear a song from "The Nutcracker" and I start reminiscing over the endless rehearsals that accompanied that performance. I miss you when I try to put my hair in a messy bun, but it always turns out too much like a ballet bun. I miss you when I try to run and my friends make fun of me because I still run with straight legs in turn-out. Basically, I miss you a lot, but there is more to what I have gained out of you than just old memories.

For starters, dancing 40 hours a week with rehearsal on top of that taught me a thing or do about dedication and time management. There is a protocol to always look your best and always try to better yourself - you are your biggest competition. You taught me to always have discipline; my hair slicked back, no talking, no yawning, paying attention to the instructor and remembering the combination or risk getting called out (still a top embarrassing moment of my life).

Although, I am not taking your classes anymore, I still carry with me the knowledge that in order to get respect, one must give respect. I dedicate myself to whatever I have to do and give it my all. I still try to outdo myself on every test, every extracurricular activity, every thing I set out to do. Thank you for teaching me to respect my body, and inspiring me to stay in shape—even without your grueling practices.

There’s a natural order in ballet whether it’s barre, center, jumps, or a pas de deux and it is followed religiously. You've taught me to love that ritual and it carries over into my everyday life. I study at the same time every other day, I have a schedule on how I go about my Sunday’s and even a route to class every morning that is never strayed from. If my natural order is ever “messed up,” I feel the need to start over or “restart the combination.” Thank you, dance, for teaching me the beauty of structure.

Although I am not with you every day of my life anymore, I still remember every lesson and every step you taught me.

So until the curtain rises again, dance, thanks for everything,

Emily