#dance student

the dance students

the glow of stage lights

breaking in a new pair of pointe shoes, molding them beneath your hands until they’re perfect

dried roses from past performances decorating your room

losing yourself in the familiar moves of a favorite variation

the same song playing on repeat through your headphones

practicing an audition combo again and again until the steps are automatic

hair pulled back in a bun or headband

learning classical ballet as well as contemporary, seeing how various styles influence each other

the silence immediately before the audience begins to applaud

hushed whispers, waiting backstage for your queue

the adrenaline of performance, feeling your blood rush in your veins

an appreciation for what your body can do

old costumes hanging in your closet

the simple elegance of port de bras

bobby pins scattered on your dresser

sinking into your stretching routine, feeling your muscles relax into it

wearing holes through the toes of your shoes

the satisfaction of turning a perfect double pirouette

dress rehearsals in an empty theater

chasing perfection, valuing the precision of each movement

practicing a sequence across the floor until you’re satisfied

the soothing repetition of barre work, running through pliés and dégagés and ronds de jambes

studying the development of different styles of dance

branching out, trying styles you’ve never done before

sweatpants pulled over an old pair of tights, rolled up around the ankles

In this video I explore the different ways of exploring space in movement.

In class we talked about the reaching and moving into the space as well as exploring the different planes in your own space while moving. These planes and ways of movement can actually play a part in your day to day life.

The three planes:

Transverse plane - horizontal plane of the body (table)

Saggital plane - vertical plane of front and back (wheel)

Frontal plane - passes from side to side at right angles (door)

As a popper, I tend to dance very "in with myself". My shapes and movements are not big and expressive but usually tend to be in my frontal plane and horizontal plane.

In this video I explored making my shapes big and small while varying between flowing and sudden movements. The song I chose (Yalla tnam nada by Bachar Mar-Khalife) helped with that as the song goes between heavy beats and a flowing voice.

This is me at the barre 1 year ago..days after I took this video I sprained my ankle so bad in jazz class that I couldn't dance for 5 months.

I always show up. Even if I am injured or too sore to fully participate I still come to class to watch and listen and to support the other dancers who also continue to work hard.

Here's to the dancers who aspire to be on pointe but "aren't ready yet".

Here's to the dancers who don't have their splits flat yet.

Here's to the dancers who feel clueless in their path.

Here's to the dancers who fear they're not talented, or graceful, or flexible enough.

Here's to the dancers who have clean single pirouettes, but can't seem to grasp a double quite yet.

Here's to the dancers with tears in their tights and holes in their leotards.

Here's to the dancers who started dancing at an older age.

Here's to the dancers who don't have the "ideal image" of how a dancer "should look".

Here's to the dancers who use the art as a coping mechanism.

Here's to the dancers who can't afford classes.

Here's to the dancers with mental illness.

Here's to the dancers with disabilities of all kinds.

Here's to the dancers who can't seem to achieve the "perfect" bun no matter how many times they redo it.

You may or may not know, but I am a ballet dancer (unfortunately, I’ll never be able to pursue a career in it, because I’m too fucking tall). I’ve been dancing for about a decade and I’ve been en pointe for 2 years, and I really fucking love it.