Personal Narrative Draft One

Dance

            To say that dance has been a huge part of my life would be an understatement. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t dancing. I started when I was three years old and continued with it for fifteen years. There were definitely some ups and downs with it. Times when I didn’t want to make the thirty-minute trip. But now I can’t imagine never having dance and met all the people who have become such a huge part of my life.

I feel like a different person when I’m at dance. I can be my goofy, silly self and not have to worry about being judged. Dance is one of the only places that I feel like I can be myself at. It gives me sense of belonging when I’m there. I feel at home in a sense when I’m dancing. Some of my best friends in life are from my dance classes. I feel like they know the real me. Dance gives people character, and I feel that dance helped to make me the person I am today. It’s given me respect for others and most importantly respect for myself.

If it weren’t for dance I never would have met Ali. Ali is one of my best friends. I don’t remember how we become such close friends, I just know that she was in my class and our friendship grew from there. Ali and I have done many dances together over the years, including some duos and trios. She makes me strive to do better, and gives me confidence when we’re dancing together.

About six or seven years ago we got a new teacher at the studio. It was a couple weeks before the recital and I remember coming to class and thinking, “Who’s the new student?” She was tiny, blonde and could pass as one of us. I didn’t know when I first met Anne that she would become more than just a dance teacher to me. She’s my friend, teacher, and most importantly part of my family. She does more than just teach girls how to dance; she teaches them how to be a better person and inspires people to follow their dreams. In 2008 she started sending out what she called “Wednesday’s Words of Wisdom”. It was an email that she sent out to a group us girls that had something to do with either never giving up, self respect, setting goals and quotes about life. She wants everyone to always try their hardest and wants all her students to succeed in life not matter what they decide to do. Anne has taught me about dance and about life. She’s given me the life skills I need in order to become the most successful person I can be. Anne is a role model and inspiration for girls. I can’t think of a better teacher to teach me.

Dance pushes me to try harder and do better. I know I won’t make a career out of dancing, but it’s one of my passions. But to see how far I’ve come from when I first started fills me with a sense of accomplishment. From my first dance recital where I only stood on the stage and did one turn, to being in almost every other number in the show and doing duos and trios. I started off as a shy little girl who was petrified of being on that stage. And now I’m a not as shy girl who still gets nervous about going on stage, but loves the feeling she gets after. Dance is my home away from home. And I consider some of these girls to be my dance family.

Dance has shaped me into a better person. And Anne and all my teachers have pushed me to be a better dancer and a better person. Dance has a permanent spot in my heart and I don’t know what I would have done if I didn’t have dance in my life. Dance has shaped me into the person that I am today, and it has brought so many people into my life who have become so important to me. Dance is a part of me.