Ed. Nar. Final Draft!!

Education Narrative

 

 

 

Learning how to dance was one of the greatest things I ever decided to do. It opened up a world of movement, excitement and happiness that I never knew was out there. It made me able to see everything I was missing in my life. I was able to make many new friends, get over my stage fright and just let loose! I love being able to develop my own personal style in my dance, and let people see the real me. Through learning how to dance, I learned to not care what people thought of me, or of what I did in my life. I learned about whose opinions to really value, and the ones I could discard. I learned who my real friends were. And most importantly, I learned how to just be me.

 

The type of dance I do today is belly dance. People tend have some preconceived notions about belly dancers. Some say it’s a ‘sexy’ style of dancing, similar to strippers or pole dancers. I’ve heard it all. It’s actually a dance that requires total muscle control, musicality, and a love for sound. Belly dance is the physical representation of music using only the body.

 

My decision to start dance began when I met two very important people in my life. They were both beautiful girls, but in such different ways. One girl was tall and blonde, and seemed to move with grace, always. The other was shorter, also blonde, but with blue in her hair. She dressed in all black, always wearing spikes and skulls, yet she was the happiest person I ever knew. I met them through school, and at first, we didn’t seem to have much to talk about. Then, they mentioned dance. They both were so different from each other, yet had the common experience of dance to link them together. I started going to the performances and watching the dance classes with these two girls, and I so badly wanted to be with those girls. The girls who volunteered to do a routine in front of the dance class were so brave! And their dancing was fantastic. I felt like I could never be as great as they were. I wanted to have the courage to be with them. I wanted to be good enough to be one of them! I wanted to learn how to be able to move like that! So I finally gathered up my courage and signed up for classes.

 

Let me describe a bit about the dance studio. It is in a tiny building in downtown Poulsbo called The Dance Within. The gorgeous balcony overlooks Liberty Bay, and gives a great place to just hang out. The studio itself is colorful and relaxed, the dance area has one wall covered in mirrors, and the floors are covered in exotic-looking rugs, worn down from years of being danced on, in colors of red, yellow, orange, and different shades of brown. There’s a small shop area where you can buy dance costumes, jewelry, and other fun things. My favorite part of the studio shop is the shoes. One entire wall of the shop area is covered in shoes. These aren’t regular shoes. They’re between five and nine inch heels. They’re every color of the rainbow, and the envy of most women who come through there. While the shop is amazing… I wasn’t drawn to it because of that. I was drawn to the studio mainly because it is always filled with people. The people that work there and take classes there are some of the best people I've ever met. They are all so positive and encouraging, and I immediately made lifelong connections with them. They supported me no matter what. They believed in me always. My second family exists at that studio, and I wouldn't give them up for the world. It was such a great place.

 

The day of my first lesson finally came. I found out that the two girls I’d met before, the girls, who were now my good friends, were the teachers! They started by telling the other girls to work on a choreography they knew already, and pulled me to the side. They began showing me the basic moves in the choreographies that my dance group knew. Hip bumps, body rolls, egyptian walks, myas… it was like they were speaking another language! Thankfully, I picked up the moves fairly quickly, and in the time of a single, one hour class, I was already joining in with the other girls in the choreography! Unfortunately, I had major stage fright when it came to me performing alone. I did NOT like dancing in front of the other girls, even after I learned all the basics. I always felt like I was doing something wrong, or that the people I performed for wouldn’t like it. I wasn't comfortable, and for a while I was allowed to sit out when we did improvisational solo practice.

 

Soon, it came time for the girls in my class and I to do solo performances at a major event. Viking Fest. I had no idea what music to dance to, or even what to do! I was very nervous about the whole thing, and didn’t want to do it. However, with the help of my two best friends, I was able to choreograph an entire four minute long solo to music that was completely original. Most of the girls did their solos to drum music, or beautiful classical music… I chose to do my dance to hip hop violin music. It was original, and had unique beats that made for an amazing performance.

 

I would not be the person I am today if it weren't for those two amazing girls, who became two of my best friends later on, pushing me to always be better. I definitely wouldn’t be the dancer I am today if it weren’t for my dance teachers, and the people at the studio. My dance friends worked with me outside of the dance studio for hours on end, helping me perfect my technique and look great while dancing, and also developing my own personal dance style. With their coaching, and an insane amount of help from the other women who worked at the studio, I became who I am today. A confident dancer who can get up in front of giant crowds, smile, and dance my heart out by myself without worrying about what they may think. I never thought much about myself until I started dancing at The Dance Within. One thing that will always remain in my mind is what Michele, the woman who owns the studio, told me. She said, “Shelby, you have no idea how precious you are to me. You are going to go so far in life. No matter what you choose to do with yourself, know that here, at the studio, you will always be loved and supported. And if anyone makes you feel like less than the amazing girl you are, you let me know. I’ll take care of them.” Learning how to dance in such a safe environment allowed me to let loose, to relax, and to have fun. And with that, I learned how to truly be myself around all people.