Dance Like No One is Watching.

I have been a dancer since I was 7 years old.  I would say that I spent most of my childhood/teen/college years very happily in a dance studio either taking class, practicing, or rehearsing for some show or another.  I loved it and I still love it.  I am currently a dance teacher at the First State Academy of Dance where I teach Intro 1 and Intro 2 which are combined ballet/tap classes for kids in the 4-8 age range.  Teaching dance is not my "real job" but one I do for a couple of  reasons. 

The first reason is that because I teach, Brynn gets to take dance classes for free:-)  I know it's not the best reason in the world but hey...dance lessons are expensive!!!

Some of my Intro 1 class (that's Brynn in the middle).

One of the best things about teaching this age group is that my classes are the first ones in the evening.  This means that if I get to the studio a little early I am the only one there.  When you are a dancer, there is nothing in the world quite like having an empty dance studio all to yourself.  I turn the music up and just "Dance Like No One is Watching."  It's an amazingly free feeling to just put it all out there without worrying about technique or what you look like or really anything for that matter.  I just let it all out...best therapy in the world!!!  As adults, we very rarely have opportunities to let it all hang out like that...which brings me to my next reason I love teaching dance.

I adore teaching this age group (in spite of the fact that I have to sing, dance and do flips in order to maintain their attention span) because I have them at a point in their life where they dance with total abandon.  They have not yet reached the point where they are self conscious.  They just move however their spirit takes them.  In just about every class, I have at least one point where a child is in a corner of the room putting on the performance of a lifetime without a care in the world as to whether or not anyone is watching.  I LOVE THAT!!!!   I know how free and happy they feel and I just want to bottle it up for them so they can have it their whole lives!!

Earlier this week, we sat down to watch Brynn's recital video. After her dance was over Brynn wanted to watch the other girls too.  So, we let the DVD run.  Shortly after Brynn's class, the hip hop class came on.  The music was Willow's, Whip My Hair.  Both of my babies started busting a move.  Colton was seriously "dropping it like it was hot" (I'm going to try to video his moves and will post if I get a good one).  It was one of those Mama moments that you know you will remember forever....perfect innocence, a total lack of inhibition and their whole hearts enjoying the moment....

"Dance Like No One is Watching"  has always been my favorite quote.  It just makes perfect sense in my life.