I've been dancing since I could walk. It all started out when my mom put me in ballet classes in town when I was an itty bitty little four year old. It was tradition in our family to put all of the girls into dance classes at a young age, hoping that they would want to pursue it. But, none of them stuck with ballet, tap or jazz as long as I did.
My youngest aunt opted out of ballet after just a few years - which is probably because she was definitely more of an outdoors tomboy kind of girl. My other aunt wasn't it in for too long, and I think my mom was in it just for a short amount of time as well. They all quit before their teenage years. But for some reason, I stuck to it.
It all started out with ballet. I still have the light blue tutu that each of the girls are given when they first start out in the youngest class. There's memories of me twirling around in the kitchen, posing for my mom as she would take pictures of me. I was so young, but I enjoyed this hobby so much.
When I was six, I remember going to class one day and watching the tap class before me. I asked my mom what they were doing and she told me what tap dancing was. I was instantly intrigued and I recall telling my mom that I wanted to do what they were doing. So, that following year, at seven years old, I was doing not only ballet but tap classes as well.
I was very observant when I was little and I just always remember studying things closely, easily amazed and interested, just wanting to do what everyone else was doing - regardless of my horrible shyness.
1. Getting to see your family after your performance.
One of the greatest things after a recital is maneuvering your way around the crowded hallway, packed with parents coming in from the auditorium to congratulate their budding dancers. I was always anxious to find mine, puffing with pride, awaiting their kind words on my long-practiced routines. It would usually always end up being my mom, my grandma, my aunt, and my great grandpa and eventually my little cousin and little sister. They would kiss me, and do the tradition "Here are your flowers! Hold them and we'll take pictures" bit. It's one of those rare times where I feel truly proud of myself, and it's nice to have your family there to support you in the end.
2. Having a nickname.
I've known my ballet instructor since I was four years old. She basically watched me grow up, which is kind of a heartwarming thing that I like to believe is really special. Yeah she was really strict at times, and when you didn't follow the rules, she got pretty impatient. But what ballet instructor isn't? Either way, after I had sprouted some around age eight, she had given me the nickname "Daddy long legs". I've always been pretty tall, or have super lengthy legs, anyway. It was always "Alright daddy long legs, show me a pekay turn" or "get those legs up, daddy long legs! Use them!" I felt important having a nickname, and yeah, sounds pretty lame I guess, but deep down I knew I was one of her favorites - which is in my opinion, super rad.
3. The mini panic attacks on the actual performance day.
So you've been practicing your steps for each of the routines for weeks on end, right? Well it's kind of terrifying when you're faced with the actual performance day - what if you forget a certain step!?? What if you mess up?? Looking back, there weren't really horrific moments where I've forgotten anything. All in all, I was pretty good. (I am gifted with a wonderful memory) However, there have those times where I slipped up here and there, and I had to improvise. Throughout the dance, I would feel my face burning from embarrassment, even though my mistake was pretty minor. It gets scary, though. Either way, you're in front of everyone and you want to look good and when the music starts playing, you try really hard not to pee your pants - or in most cases, tights.
4. Getting used to the dress rehearsal routines.
Ahhh, the typical dress rehearsal routines. Since I was four years old, I've been accustomed to this tradition. Come in with ALL of your costumes, with the right colored tights, the right tutus, everything needs to be PINNED back or tucked away, every strand of hair has to be out of your face, you have to have every piece of your assigned costume, and your fingernails need to be absolutely nail-polish free. The older girls would come around then, with dark red lipstick, q-tips and blush and apply it to the little one's faces, and the occasional bobby-pin and hairspray. This was the part where parents were advised to stay OUT of the chaotic, crowded hallway so that everyone could get ready on time. Otherwise, there would be hell to pay from the head director/instructor...
5. That feeling when you become on the of "big kids".
When I turned twelve years old, that's when I felt so "entitled". I think it's kind of funny how most kids that are in dance get that way when they hit a certain age. It was twelve because that's the year that I shredded my flat ballet slippers for actual "big girl ballet shoes" - you know, the ones where you go up on your toes? I would dance around the studio, and have the younger girls watching me in awe - almost like "how does she do that? How does she get up on all her toes like that?" I felt so proud, and yes, a tad cocky. But c'mon, I was twelve and starting my new chapter in dance-hood. Transitioning into older dance classes also involved helping out with younger kids, so that required my ballet instructor to call me "Miss Busshardt" in front of the little ones. Later on, I went on to help teach two younger classes.
6. Feeling proud when the instructor applauds you on a dance step.
So I'll just say it feel incredibly satisfying when your instructor points out how well you did something while in class. Not in a cocky way at all, but it feels wonderful, especially if it's a really complicated step.
7. Getting blisters where you would bleed through your tights.
HAHAHAHA. Welcome to ballet world, folks! It's not what it's all cracked up to be. It's not just dainty, petite girls dancing around so elegantly and not breaking a sweat or dealing with pain of any sort. Nope, ballet is hard work. When I got into my point shoes, I instantly started getting really bad blisters in class that would usually break open and would burn, cramps from hell in my feet, and would constantly bleed through my tights. I know I'm making it sound like a horror movie - but what if it kind of is? Either way, my feet are now officially done for. I mean, they're mangled. They're full of calluses, and they are just hideous looking. But do I really care? Not really. It shows my dedication and how I pulled through such PAINFUL dance classes.
8. Showing up to class late in jeans.
Yeah... don't do this. Ballet instructors are all about responsibility and punctuality. You'll feel really stupid in front of everyone else, too. At least I did.
9. Desperately trying to chip your nail polish off because you forgot to.
Oh my god. If anyone grew up dancing with a really strict instructor (loving, but strict as all get out...) then you will know that familiar mini-panic attack of when you didn't scrub all of the nail polish off of your fingers when she asked for them to be plain for the rehearsal or for anything. I've had to hide my hands from showing too much, or I went into the bathroom and chipped as much polish off of my fingers as I could, using hot water and soap. So... yeah. Maybe I'm overreacting, but you had to be on point.
10. Waiting, waiting, waiting . . .
I hated waiting for my class to get on stage and perform during the recitals. It was so boring, like straight up snooze-fest. Usually I would go into a corner and practice my steps while I waited, but other than that, it wasn't much fun and it took longer than anyone really anticipated. The older kids had to keep the little kids quiet most of the time, too - so that resulted in lots of "let's play the quiet game!"
11. That unique feeling you get on stage.
It's that adrenaline rush you get when you feel all eyes on you, and you feel the warmth of the stage lights soaking into your skin. It's that satisfying feeling of getting all the right steps down at the right time. When I transitioned into senior tap class, it was a tradition to do our dance very last, and end it with a long kick line - my absolute favorite. The kick line was usually where I felt unstoppable. The sound of everyone matching up with the kicks and taps was literally music to my ears. And then finally, landing on the ground with our hands up, hearing the audience clap even after the curtain closed... and we're completely out of breath... Yes, that is my favorite feeling and one of the many reasons I love dancing.
12. When you move up a class.
I'm older! I can wear point shoes! I get to dance in high heeled tap shoes! No more flat shoes! I'm a big kid, now! I GET TO EXPERIENCE NEW THINGS AND CHALLENGE MYSELF:)
13. If you don't put your hair up when you come to class, she gonna put it up for you.
...Don't come to class with your down cause she's gonna pull you aside, grab that brush and forcefully put your hair into a pony tail with one of her rubber bands, and it hurts, man.
I graduated from my dance studio when I was eighteen years old. I went off to college of course, but I was thankful to find a dance class at UW-Whitewater. Currently, I've been too busy to find a new studio to register myself in. When I was little, I wanted to go to Julliard and be a professional ballerina. However, dancing, specifically tap dancing, will always be a hobby more than anything. As I've grown, I've come to realize that it will always be just that. But then again . . . life is full of crazy unexpected surprises. Right at this moment, though, I'm going to continue focusing on school and classes and my English major. However, I hope to find something to keep me dancing in the near future. I still have my tap and point shoes . . . obviously:) Though I have grown and things have happened in life and my interests have been ALL of the map in the creative field, dancing has and will always be apart of me - there's no doubt about that.
Below are some photos from my dancing days throughout the years that I would like to share. I have much better ones than these, but they're stashed away in photo albums at home, so I found some off of Facebook. Enjoy:)
I really should NOT be dancing with point shoes on carpet, but here's a picture of me digging up my shoes and trying them back on for memory sake.
Just a picture I took at dance class. Circa 2013. Trying to be artsy.
Me in dark blue ballet, at age 6. Circa 2000.
Me in red ballet, at age 5. Circa 1999.
Me in senior tap, my very last dance!!! Age 18. Circa 2013.
Me in my senior jazz outfit... just you know, hanging out in the dress room, taking selfies. Age 18. circa 2013.
Me in tap class, at age 16... please ignore the disgusting-ness. Circa 2011.
Me, being a ham and taking more selfies in the dressing room before the actual show. I was Sleeping Beauty! Age 18. Circa 2013.
Oh you know...
Selfies before tap class, at age 17. Circa 2012.
