On the days when your body hurts and your brain is buzzing, remember why you dance. There is a reason why you continue to show up, day after day, week after week, to keep striving for more.
Maybe it’s because you walked off the stage after your first performance as a little kid feeling electric. Maybe it’s because dancing makes you feel like you’re flying. Maybe it’s because every new achievement, every new milestone, makes you feel like you’re on top of the world. Maybe it’s because you’re proud of how far you’ve come. For many of you, I remember when you were little and all you ever wanted was to be the dancer that you are right now. While we do want to keep climbing, keep progressing, and keep pushing the boundary of our capabilities, I hope that when you do so, you feel proud of yourself. I know that the younger version of yourself would be over the moon to see who she has become.
Sometimes we forget that “normal people” don’t do what we do. We look at our achievements and dismiss them because we still have goals that are not yet met. This is when we need to remember where we came from. How many things we have mastered - things that once felt so out of reach. We ask a lot of you. But we do that because we know what you’re capable of. Each and every one of you has proven to us that you have it in you. You now need to trust yourself. You need to truly believe that you’ve put in the work, you know your stuff, and you can adapt in the face of challenges. Part of this comes from being honest with yourself. We don’t gain confidence or skill if we’ve avoided the scary things. I promise you that they will become less scary once you face them head on. If you don’t know your stuff, then put in the work now to ensure you do. You can approach this season confidently once you know you’ve done everything you need to do to be prepared.
Performing is such a gift that we get to share with one another. Every time you perform, whether it’s in class, at a show, or at a competition, treat it as a celebration. Treat it as an opportunity for you to show off everything you’ve learned, surrounded by a team who truly loves and supports you. It isn’t a test. There is no passing or failing. We don’t want you going on stage thinking of all the things that could go wrong. Instead, we want you to take a deep breath before you step out on the stage and remember that these days, where you get to dance your heart out week after week, are numbered. And one day, when you’re all grown up and chasing other things, you will give anything to be back here. While you have this chance, we want you to enjoy it, to LOVE it, to have it uplift and empower you. Soak in every moment.
We are not asking you to stop working hard. We are not asking you to lower your standards. We are not asking you to care less about your performance. We are simply asking you to believe in yourself. You have conquered greater challenges than this and you can do it again. So, when the pressure feels like too much, remember your reason. Think of why you are here. Take your “why” and let it guide you.
