D is for - Dance.
Friday, July 27, 2012 at 6:00AM This is my 'D' post for the A-Z All About Me challenge hosted over at Love Kate's place. You can read my other A-Z posts here.
Me - aged 7 - my 3rd Ballet Concert. I was a POPPY in the Wizard Of Oz. Dance has played {and probably will always continue to} a huge role in my life for as long as I can remember.
I still have little snippets of memories of my first concert, I was a butterfly ballerina with super rosy circles of blush on each cheek and big yellow wings. I felt like a princess! I was in my element!
As the years went on I continued to dance, and perform....and love it.
However, as much as I loved to dance. In those early years, it somehow brought out my super-shy side. Whilst all the other girls would run around, giggling and mingling....I sat perfectly still.....on my own. Which was weird - because at school, I had lots of friends. I was social & happy & chatty. Yet at dancing, I was so introverted & shy. I think now {with hindsight} as I look back, I felt intimidated by the other girl's talents and their 'out-there' personalities. Even at age 6, I was aware of this. In some ways I felt not good enough, and very self conscious. I never felt a warming love towards my teacher, and as much as I loved to spin & twirl & point my toes....and as much as I liked to get dressed up at concert time & see my family's smiling faces, I still felt a love-hate relationship for the actual dance classes!!
My Nanna sewed this whole ballet outfit :) And made a matching shoe basket to with :) So throughout my childhood, I dibbed & dabbed in different dance classes & dance schools. Sometimes finding my groove. Sometimes finding my fears.
In High School, I found my happy place with my love for dance. And that was through the school's dance company, as well as being able to study dance as a subject from Year 9-Year 12. Being a fairly prestigious school, you had to audition to get into the Dance Company. I was accepted in Year 9 at my 2nd audition. There, with my very best friends & a really cool teacher, I truly was happy! We studied dance techniques from all around the world and analysed the styles of many famous choreographers. I was there at 7am most mornings for rehearsals until 6/8pm most nights, and to be in the stage shows we had to sacrifice weekends, school holidays & late nights! But it truly was some of the funnest memories of my teenage years!
I got to perform several times in the Brisbane QPAC Hall in front of thousands of people. I danced in the Jesus Christ Superstar musical & Guys and Dolls. I went to Sydney to dance twice. We performed in so many places all around Brisbane. I loved nothing more than to dance! It's where I felt good, and happy....and ME.
As I grew older and stopped caring so much about what other people thought....or what other people expected, I became more comfortable in my own skin, and gained a bigger love to dance & perform. I only just stopped last year in fact....to give birth to Ryder :)
Me - on stage - 2010
Backstage - 2010
Having fun backstage - 2010
And....now that I'm a 'Dance Mum'....I couldn't be happier :)
My heart beams with pride as I watch my little bug...dancing....and LOVING it! She's social & bubbly. She loves her dance teacher, and has made some fabulous little friends. Not only is she learning to dance & all the right techniques & discipline that go with it, but she's learning so much more - about herself & others!
Ella - Jazz - 2011 - aged 3.
They say DANCE is a universal language. And I agree. It doesn't matter what language you speak or what talents/disabilities you have - dance is a way to communicate, to learn, to love, to express, to feel, to move and to have fun!!!
a-z all about me, ballet, body conscious, dance, dancing, love, self esteem in {A-Z All About Me}
Reader Comments (4)
You always were a beautiful dancer and it gave us so much pleasure to see you on stage each time. I''m sorry about those big pink cheeks!
I can SOOO see Ella in that first photo!! :) It sounds like over the years, you definitely found the right fit for you in terms of dance and I'm glad it gave you so much enjoyment throughout your teenage years. I remember you sharing those photos from 2010 on your blog and thinking how gorgeous you looked in your costumes. I think it's really special that you can now enjoy sharing your love of dance with Ella and continue 'living dance' that way xx
Oh Claire, what a heart-warming post. Thanks for sharing your thoughts so honestly. I had a terrible time with ballet. With a sway back, my rear tended to protrude out too far when at the barre doing demi-plies. My teacher would openly tap me on the bottom with a ruler. The mortification was terrible. I stopped soon after. Now I've seeing Miss India in love with dancing of any form. I am happy to encourage her but not push her. I want to ensure she'd always enjoying herself. J x
That was a wonderful post! I used to love dancing myself when I was young - so much fun! Take care!