I've always wanted to be a dancer. For as long as I can remember I have watched the Rockettes & wished that I was one of those perfect beauties with endlessly long legs - but biology had other plans. I have longed for the world to watch me as I graced the stage & expressed the beauty of the world through movement. In high school I performed in musicals & in college I even considered getting a minor in dance while taking classes in ballet, jazz & tap. I loved it & wanted to immerse myself in all things dance - until I saw a dance major in the cafeteria. I approached her & asked about the requirements & as she filled me in on the details all I could see were the sparse fruit & vegetables on her tray. The more I heard about the hours of mandatory practice & the weigh-ins, the further my desire of becoming a dance minor became. I decided that a life without cheesecake was just not worth living.
I traded in my dream of being a classically trained dancer for the Latin club scene. I hit the clubs 3-4 times a week, took classes & eventually danced with the Chicago Latin Street Dance Company. I wish I could bottle that feeling - dancing with someone who is feeling the music the same way I am, participating in a piece that bonds us together, dancing for the sheer joy of dancing & being appreciated - applause is completely intoxicating.
Every commitment requires sacrifice. I wasn't willing to give up cheesecake or my college years for dance but I found another way to embrace my passion. I learned what I could have instead of giving up my dreams altogether since I wasn't 5'9" tall. Even now when I dance I am thrilled when someone tells me that he has enjoyed watching me - performance offers an immediate response. Being a dancer has made me stand taller. Dance has helped me define & extend my limits. The best dancers in the world start with the basics. The fluid combinations are what garner the most applause but it is the fundamentals that get you there. It's easy to look for the new flashy marketing solution but you don't need anything new - just stick to the basics. You know what to do; now do it!
