Leaps are one of my favorite things to do!

Two years ago I decided to take the school’s dance one class because ever since I was a little girl, I always enjoyed dancing at parties and dancing around the house. I went into this class thinking  this will be a fun, easy class but never expected to end up falling in love with dance. A few weeks into the class, when we started learning the basics of the Jazz dance style is when I realized that dancing is something that I loved doing and I wanted to continue doing it. Later on that month was the school’s first assembly and I didn’t know what to expect or what was going to happen. After the stampede of students made their way through doors into the gym is when the assembly began. I don’t remember too much of the other performances because the only two that I remember were the Intermediate and Advanced dance teams. Their performance left me in awe and from that moment on I made it my goal to make it onto one of those teams. I started working hard on my flexibility because I had seen the dance team do tricks that required flexibility and I wanted to be as good as them. I wanted to improve on everything after watching their performances. Try outs finally came and a few of my friends — that I made in the dance class — were trying out with me too. Walking into the tryouts and looking at all the amazing dancers doing a La second turns and four pirouettes is when I realized that perhaps I was not ready yet ; I still tried out anyway but didn’t make the neither of the teams. I was bummed out at first but knew that the following year I would take dance two and work even harder.

The next year came quicker than I expected but I was ready, I was going to push myself to become a better dancer. Kelly, who I had met in dance one, was in my class and she had the same love for dance as I did which is why we became best friends. Her and I always helped each other and when tryouts came we tried out together. I still remember that on the first day of try outs — when we learn across the floor and a short jazz/hip-hop routine — I felt so nervous and I kept falling out of my turns when we practiced in small groups so I started to doubt myself. Turns have always and still are the most difficult for me to do. I told Kelly that I did not want to try out anymore because I was not ready yet but she told me that I was and that I could do it, so I ended up going the next day. I was so scared and I just wanted to get it over with because I could not handle the anxiety. When it is time for a person to tryout, it is done in groups of three and the dancers go onstage to perform what they learned the previous day. It is performed in front of Mrs.Howerton, the dance teacher, and three other judges. My turn came and I had to go with Zoe and Cassie who were on the team the previous year, so I thought great I’m going to look so bad dancing next to them.  I went on stage and gave it my all and walked out feeling confident in my performance because I was able to keep up with the girls and I didn’t forget anything.

That night I started to reflect on my performance, and I started to think of all the things I did wrong or could’ve done better which made me believe that I didn’t make the team. The next day I was dreading to find out if I made it or not and what didn’t help was the fact that you have to wait until after school ends to find out whether or not you made the team. The bell rang and school was finally over, so I started walking over to where I get my envelope that tells me if I made it or not. I went up and told Kathy, the lady who works in the girls locker room, my number which was 35. She gave me the envelope and it felt heavy so my heart started pounding, I open it as fast as my little hands could and I read that I made the intermediate team!! I was so happy because my hard work paid off. My group of friends which included Kelly came and they all congratulated me. I told her that if I made it then she had to make it too and she did. Even though I persevered the previous year and didn’t reach my goal I didn’t let it stop me from trying again. I continued to persevere and although I had some self-doubt I still tried and in the end it paid off. Because of my perseverance, I ended up making the team and in my journey through perseverance I made a new best friend who I am still best friends with today. Being on the dance team has given me confidence, happiness, and new talented friends. Dance also taught me to never give up on myself and that there is something we can always improve on to become not only a better dancer but a better person.