It Never Ceases to Amaze Me

We have had a great couple of months of classes.  Our dancers are moving through the curriculum exceptionally well and I was so pleased to see their progress this past Saturday.  It was the first performance of the year at the Habitat for Humanity Walk, in their brand new tutus and costumes.  For many, it was the first performance on stage ever.  Even though it has only been two years since we began, I went into this performance with a mindset of, "Here we are at another performance and I know the dancers will do well."  What I didn't remember was what it feels like to see the crowd, especially moms, dads, and grandparents, watch their loved one dance for the first time.  In a less than 3 minute song, these dancers captured their audience.  I was caught off guard when I found tears in my eyes!  This is our third year and I am still touched by the abilities of these dancers.

This was the first time that I was not "on-stage" with the dancers and I was able to experience them as a whole along with the rest of the audience.  I really love this program and I am so happy that the community has continued to embrace us. 

The last thing I'd like to comment on today is that our audience only gets to see a limited view of what our dancers are capable of.  In order for them to take the stage, there are many hours of preparation that they go through.  Having the courage to go up on stage in front of hundreds of eyes watching, where loud music is blaring, and while they are wearing a brand new outfit can be very daunting.  Some of these dancers struggled with entering the dance room on the first day of class, some used to wear headphones to decrease the auditory input they were receving, and some were so focused on the other dancers, they didn't complete the moves themselves.  What you saw yesterday was courageous, successful, and triumphant.  I am overwhelmingly proud of ALL of our dancers and for everything they overcome daily.  I am also extremely grateful that we have young men and women in our community who stand up and take the time to assist and love on our dancers each week.

Have a truly blessed week and if you remember, take a moment to be thankful for the children in our world who do make it extra special.

Leah