Dancing!!

When I was a little girl (maybe 3), I watched my older sister dance and fell in love. Then my mom put me in a dance class and my first recital dance I ever did was "Animal Crackers in My Soup!". I was hooked! Then we moved to a new home and guess what? My next door neighbor put a dance studio in her basement! I learned to tap and ballet there until I was 12 or 13. I should have moved on and trained for toe in ballet, but I decided to compete in gymnastics instead (which I also started at about 4 years old). I still needed dance, so I did a ballet class at my gym and then a jazz class at another studio. When I was 15, my next door neighbor who was my dance teacher found out she had stomach cancer and passed away 6 weeks later. At the time I was just a dumb teenager and didn't understand how much she had shaped me in my love of dance and I never got to thank her for being such a great teacher! I feel like I need to credit her for teaching me so much about dance and for the love of dance! When I was in high school I was a cheerleader for 3 years and took dance classes at school. I also competed in gymnastics until I was a Junior. Then I went to Ricks College. My first year at Ricks I didn't dance, but my roommate did and so the second semester, she talked me into taking a ballroom dance class. Well, I took that semester and then tried out for the ballroom dance team and made it the next year. But, I also took ballet and a modern dance class that same year. I fell absolutely in love with Modern/Creative dance and who couldn't with MEL Claridge as your teacher. He did so many amazing pieces! I loved going to class. He would choreograph a song and add on to it each class, but these weren't just cutsy songs, these were songs that had a lot of feeling in them. He taught me about dancing with emotion and feeling the music. I loved going to dance and ended up dancing for my associates degree. Then I joined the CDT (Creative Dance Theatre) under Mel and was able to go on tour to Japan where we performed 4-6 times a day while we were there for 2 1/2 weeks. During that time, I was dancing between 6-8 hours a day and in absolute heaven!! I still competed in ballroom dancing and cabaret's (dancing with a partner doing lifts, etc.) during this time also. Then I graduated and went to Utah State University. I danced 3-4 classes a day there also and was able to be a part of 2 different graduate student pieces. That was an amazing experience. At USU they had a drummer and a pianist for each class and I remember thinking that was the most awesome way to dance and feel the music. I tried out for their team, but found out that I was pregnant and was having complications (I later miscarried) and had to drop out after making it to the finalist selection. But, that didn't stop me! When I moved to W.J. I helped a friend of mine while she was pregnant teach her classes and do her recital, which was an absolute joy! Then I was a co-director for a large children's choir which I choreographed and taught singing. When I moved to AZ, I became a part of "Talent-Team". But, I knew that wasn't what I ultimately wanted. I had just had a baby and wanted to do something with my own children, so I started to teach Kindermusik (which I trained in during all of this). I fell in love with the singing and dancing that this offered me. But, I still wanted more! I would watch my kids as I would put them in dance programs and gymnastics and I really felt like that I wanted to be teaching them! I wanted it for myself, but also for my girls, so that I could teach them to love dancing just like I did. So, when the opportunity presented itself -- guess what? I took it! I have 6 classes with a total of 40 students! I love every minute of it! It has been a whirlwind with getting costumes and recital together, but I have absolutely loved all the creative avenues it has given me! I have also loved getting to know the girls, their families and also those that have been there to help me and guide me through this whole process! My husband though, he has been THE BEST!! I told him in December that it is what I really wanted (he had been hearing it for years!) He told me no way! I cried and begged and pleaded and he caved in!! hehe! But, the day after I told him it is what I wanted, he came home with plans of how to get it done. He has been my sounding board through it all and helped me to see that it was possible. Many times, I would be down and wondering if it was going to be done or if I would have students to teach (which by the way -- I sent out 1 mass e-mail and got all of my students from that), but he would talk me through everything and make me realize the reality of what I could and couldn't do! He has had to make dinner a few times and deal with me complaining about my aching old body, but for the most part, he has been a trooper!! I still can't believe it! I go out and dance in my own studio whenever I want! I feel like it is what I am truly supposed to be doing right now! I have had to work out a few kinks, but in reality it has been a great thing for me!! Again, thank you to all who believed in me -- all you moms and girls who encouraged me! I wish that I could teach more classes, I just love coming up with new things and creating! I want to share it with everyone! I love the girls and teaching them that they are beautiful and how to have confidence along with teaching them to dance! I want them to all enjoy dancing and be able to use it as an outlet! I am working on getting a Yoga class going, a Hip Hop class, cheerleading, tumbling and karate. Like I said, I wish I could teach more -- maybe now I can get a housecleaner, since that is my least favorite thing to do. Anyone want to TRade?? My favorite quote: "Life is about how to survive the storm and also about how to dance in the rain." I hope we can all learn to dance our way through life! My friend told Jessica and I once that she loved dancing and watching people dance because they are so happy, that when they are dancing they always have a smile on their face and it is true, try to dance with a frown on your face -- not possible!! I am definately going to "DANCE MY WAY INTO HEAVEN!!"