So since I've had this blog for a while, I figured I should share my full dance story experience. While I've written about some of my experiences, I haven't fully gone into detail about when I first started ballet and how I progressed to where I am today.
I began attending a dance studio when I was 3 years old. I took a ballet and tap combo class. I didn't really have a serious passion for dance yet, since I was only 3. I stopped taking ballet classes when I was 10 years old. Instead, I took jazz classes and tap classes throughout my elementary school years.
When I was 12 years old, I stopped taking dance classes for a year. I was tired of the dance studio that I was attending previously. I thought I wanted to do something else instead. But there felt there was something missing. The other extracurricular activities I tried were not as interesting as dance was.
SWITCHING DANCE STUDIO
At the beginning of 8th grade, I decided that I should go back to dance. I called one of my friends about the dance studio that she was going to. She told me the classes they offered and what they were like. My mom took me to the studio and I was a little overwhelmed. I hadn't danced in over a year and I didn't know what to expect. This new dance studio required that all the dancers had to take a ballet class so I took a ballet class and a tap class.
The dance studio was starting to prepare for the Nutcracker show. My ballet class was participating in it so I got the opportunity to perform it. I didn't know very much about the Nutcracker ballet because my previous dance studio never did it. When I went to the first rehearsal with all the cast members, I got to watch the full run-through of the show. I was in awe while watching the performance. I loved it so much and it made me realize that I wanted to do ballet more.
I took more classes and tried my best to improve all I could. Since I started pretty late in ballet, it took a long time to catch up to where most people my age were. I realized staying at the studio I was at, it would take longer to move up because they used the Cecchetti method which only lets you move up year by year. So when I was 14, I decided that I should maybe go to a different studio again.
MOVING TO AN ALL BALLET STUDIO
I started to take one class from a different studio and started to have a better experience than the other studio. The teachers there really cared about me and my goals and other dancers as well. While the other studio I did learn the techniques and basic skills I needed, this new dance studio taught me how to apply them and improve to become a better dancer. This dance studio was majority ballet based so I was able to take more classes that fit into my school schedule.
Ever since I participated in my first Nutcracker performance, I wanted to get on pointe. I knew that it would take a long time or it might never happen because I started ballet so late. But my teachers were there for me and motivated me to work harder to get there. I was finally promoted to pointe when I was 15.
AFTER HIGH SCHOOL
I ended up staying at this dance studio until the end of my senior year of high school. After graduating, I tried to continue taking ballet classes but it was more difficult since I had a summer job and didn't have as much time. When I moved for college, I took a ballet class at my college for the fall semester. But I wasn't too interested anymore. I was busier with school and I needed to figure out what I wanted to major in. So I haven't taken any classes since.
I think I've moved on from not doing ballet anymore. I don't miss it so much as I use to. Sometimes I have thought about maybe doing ballet again. Not as seriously as I use to but more just for a fun hobby. I would have to see how things turn out after the pandemic to see how I feel.
But I don't regret my time doing ballet. I'm glad I took the opportunity to do ballet and experience the things I got to do because of it. I've learned and grown so much because of it and I'm grateful I was able to do ballet.
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