"Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance."
-- Dave Barry
I took my first ballet class when I was just 5 years old. It was my mother’s dream for her daughters to take dance lessons; as a girl she couldn’t afford them. She actually went back to work once we were in school so she could pay for them. (By the way, as Moms go, mine rocks.) My younger sister and I learned ballet, jazz, and tap too, at Miss Barbara's School of Dance. We would perform in school events and at dance recitals, and even put on shows for the neighbors.
I danced through my early 20s, but as it happens, I got older and turned my attention to more “grown up” pursuits, working far too many hours, and leaving the dancing to the “kids.” That is, until recently. I sat in the audience of a Broadway musical one night watching the performers spin and jump about and I wondered why I ever stopepd. I mean I love everything about Broadway shows...the lights, the music, the singing, and yes, the dancing.
Broadway plays are on my top ten “Why I live in New York City” list, right up there with early Sunday mornings in Central Park, late night jazz clubs, and people from every culture, religion, and socio-economic background as my neighbors and friends. I will, and have, literally skip a meal to afford the cost of ticket to see a show. There is nothing like the Broadway “experience.” The lights of Times Square, the energy of thousands of people converging on various theaters with excitement and anticipation for that 8:00 curtain, there is nothing like it. Where would I be had I continued to pursue my classes?
Sure, I have a good job, a nice home, great friends, and a family who loves me. But fun? How much of that do I really have now? Over the past few years, I suddenly lost my father and several close friends, my love life has been less than inspiring to say the least, and despite loving my work, I recently struggled with a severe case of severe burn out. I do things I enjoy for sure, but having fun has recently slipped to a miserably low spot on the “to do” list.
A year ago, I was going to the gym regularly, doing aerobics, and using the machines, and it was fine. Then last year, on my birthday, feeling a bit old and bored with life, I wanted to shake things up and try something new. I wandered over to the gym for a Zumba class. I’d been hearing about the Latin-fused dance work out for awhile, and had a feeling it would be right up my alley. Well! One class and I was hooked. What a great birthday present to myself! A year later I am dancing Zumba a few times a week, as well as other kinds of dancing too, Salsa, ballet, and even jazz again. I am an official dancing fool. And as I quickly close in on a mile stone middle aged birthday, I will tell you that for some reason, dancing at this age is even more fun than the first time around.
There's something about challenging yourself at this age. Daring to go places where the people in the room are often younger, hipper, and more fit can be intimidating if you let it be. I did it at 40 when already holding down a demanding, high pressure job, I decided to go back to school and get my Masters in Journalism. One of the oldest people in the program, I was exhausted for three years. It remains one of the hardest things I ever did, and I had plenty of people telling me to quit, that it was too hard. “You already have a great job.” Truth was, I had a well paying job, but it wasn’t a great job, at least not for me. I was bored, uninspired, and longed to feel engaged with my work and my life. I was not willing to accept that “you work, you age, you die” mentality. Being a student again sparked all kinds of new interests and life changes. I left my “good job,” and changed careers, made interesting new friends, and now write for a living as I always wanted to.
It was damned hard working all day, and going to school at night, but it was worth every minute of struggle. There's something similar in this dancing.
To say it is one of the best things I’ve done for myself in a long time would be a gross understatement. I am no longer a teenager worried about grades and getting into college, or concerned about how my body looks in a leotard. I am not a twenty-something thinking I should be more concerned with "serious pursuits" like building a career or finding a mate.
Today, 40 something Kellie, makes dance class a priority a few times a week. Where before I planned my classes around the rest of life, now my classes come first. I dance today because Zumba makes me feel sexy, alive, and happy. It's a small thing, but when I recently mastered a difficut Samba move, you could not tell me I wasn't as good as any contestant on Dancing With the Stars! Pure fun!
Few things make me happier than when I am dancing, (or singing, or listening to someone else do it.) I’ve even given up my gym membership just to dance. It is what I did before gyms ever existed. I mean come on…an elliptical machine will do the job, but fun and inspiring? Not so much. When I leave those classes I am literally floating on a cloud. How could I not be? There is nothing bad about it, music, moving, sweating, it’s all good. When I recently took my first class at a new studio, afterward the teacher commented “You are a beautiful dancer.” What? You may as well have told me I had a part in one of those Broadway shows I love. That comment may have possibly made my year, and it just started! (Check out Misty Clark’s M Dance Fitness Her classes are great!)
And it all started with a little awareness and one simple question: When’s the last time you had some fun? If it has been awhile for you, I highly recommend it!
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I hope you'll come back soon!
Kellie
artofliving@kellietabron.com
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