The Adventures Of Being A TCRG

So as all of you know, I retired from dancing competitively after the last world championships in Montreal. Since retiring, I’ve become much more disconnected from my studio than I ever imagined I’d become. I dance far less than I anticipated I would when the time came for me to hang up the heavies, and I rarely get the chance to talk with some of the people I used to consider my family. And I’m not going to lie, it sucks a lot. When we’re little we never imagine quitting dance, and when we get a little older we always think that when we stop dancing we’ll be ready for the change. And I wasn’t. Maybe I felt ready to be done after last worlds, burnt out on college, politics, and 13 years of non-stop training, but after a month or two, all of that angst and resentment that had built up over the years faded away, and all that was left was the same passion for dance that I started with. At this point, I would give anything to step on the world stage, or hell, to even participate in a dance class one more time. So here is my advice to everyone who’s still in the game.

1. Put your teams first. 

And if you don’t do teams, put your dance classmates first. The girls and guys you dance with truly become your family, whether you realize it or not. The memories that tug at my heartstrings are not the ones of me training for the next major in a corner of the studio or “getting in the zone” before a day of competition. The memories that I LOVE and cherish are the team dinners, squeezing each others hands at awards, crying together, laughing together, learning to do the stanky leg together, just being together with my studio. The memories I shared with my teammates are really the only ones that matter in the end.

2. Avoid rivalries with other dancers. 

Throughout my career, I always made it my goal to beat someone. Whether it was someone in my own studio or some random girl I stalked on instagram, I always formed little rivalries with other dancers. Turns out, that was dumb. It caused drama, stress, and it prevented me from maintaining some friendships that really meant a lot to me. Even if they’re strictly internal, rivalries or resentment are never beneficial. 

3. Work your butt off. 

Every single day. One of the only things that keeps me sane when I start to really miss dance is knowing that I did everything I could to improve. Even if I didn’t make all of my goals, I know that I did my best and I’m proud of myself for what I accomplished, and for all of the little lessons I learned along the way.

4. Don’t give competitions power over how you feel about yourself.

world champion caoimhe devlin!