After dancing for 18 years, it is sad to say my time on stage will be coming to an end with my last show tonight. I have been dancing since I was 4, first at a studio then here at college. I never competed in my whole dance career and I think that goes along with my noncompetitive personality. Dance has stuck by me through the ups and downs in life, providing a place to get away from it all. As soon as that song comes on, you forget about everything else besides the choreography you’ve been working so hard on. The whole world drowns out and all you can see are those bright stage lights shining down. Through dance I have made so many friends that I have gotten to share the stage with. Staying at the same studio for so many years allowed me to develop lifelong friendships with the people I’ve been dancing with since I was young.
As for the costumes, there have been ones I have treasured for years and others that I would rather forget about. I have been covered head to toe in spandex, feathers, lace, sequins, and of course sparkles. As I have continued dancing in college, the costumes have been much more toned down where we all wear a certain color without purchasing expensive costumes. No matter what is chosen as a costume though, as soon as you put those tights on you start to feel that energy to get ready to step out on that stage. I know that I will probably never dance with a team again, but I know that I will always have dance as a part of my life in one way or another. I feel that dance has helped me to grow as a person and I feel so privileged that I was able to dance for as long as I have.