Imagine your calves, arms, and abdomen all sore and aching at the same time. That is what it feels like to burn 1,000 calories per hour taking a ballet class. Aside from the aches, taking dance classes can provide you with many opportunities. Just a few examples from my studio: we perform in a huge yearly recital at the Warner Theatre, I am a dance assistant who helps out the younger dancers, there are opportunities to perform in both winter and spring showcases, and I am involved in NHSDA (National Honors Society of Dance Arts).
When I hear a catchy song, I think of how I could choreograph it. Other people think dance is silly, that it is just something you do around your house. People automatically say dance is not a sport if you do not compete. However, dancers work just as hard as people who play basketball or other sports.
I have been taking dance classes for as long as I can remember. I have taken many styles; I started out doing a ballet/tap combo when I was 4 years old. I then moved onto ballet, then Irish, then I slowly added hip-hop, musical theatre, and lyrical. Those are just a few of the examples of different styles of dance. There is a dance style for every kind of personality. From ballroom to tap, there is something for everyone. Unlike some sports, dance is even accessible and achievable for people with disabilities.
Something unique about dance is that it is not only an art form, but a form of self-expression. If you are feeling upset, improv a lyrical. Pumped up? Okay. Hip-hop! The amazing thing about it is that you do not need a studio to get in your feels. Even a small room would work if you just want to put on a song and feel the music.
Something that dance does for me is calm me down when I am stressed. For example, I walked into musical theatre class last week stressed and anxious with a couple of problems weighing on my mind. However, when I got into the motions and engaged in the combo my teacher choreographed, I was brought back to ease. When I left the class, I was much more relaxed, and it was clear to me exactly how I wanted to solve the problem that plagued me on the way in. It has been proven that dancers have better coordination, agility, and flexibility. In 2003, research published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that dancing can fight diseases like dementia by 76%, which is significantly more effective than reading or working on a daily crossword puzzle.
Overall, I hope people will view dance as not just an important art form, but also as an athletic activity that creates disciplined, focused and high-achieving individuals who tend to be successful students and hard workers.
