My older sister has always loved dancing. For years she pleaded with my mother and was the first of us sisters to join Rhythm Productions Dance Centre, with my then tiny, younger sister of three years next and finally me. We had no idea that years later we would all still be dancing and loving every moment!
Dancing for me is a form of expression - I may not be the most talented, the strongest or most flexible, but I have passion - a light that shines forth from within. When you see that glow on someone's face you cannot tear your gaze away...
Nothing is more wonderful, yet terrifying, than performing... you are standing in the darkened wings of the stage, the number before you a blur... you are totally focussed, heart pounding with fear and excitement, sweat dripping down your back... you see the heavy velvet curtain rise, you feel the beat of the music flow through you, blinded by the bright lights are you step on stage... this is your moment!
It is always over so quickly. When you strike your final pose of your final performance and the rush of adrenaline suddenly disappears, you feel a sense of exhilaration, disbelief, disappointment. Hour upon hour rehearsing for months on end, only to be over after a few minutes on stage. It is surreal.
I have the opportunity of dancing for a company called Grace. This icy morning, while the rain poured down, we re-learned a piece of choreography that we performed more than a year ago at the Artscape theatre for an upcoming show. The laughter, the confusion, how it all comes back, how we so candidly tease each other, rely on one another, how all our different personalities are able to combine, bringing out each other's strengths, covering one another's weaknesses - we are a family :)
It is worth the early mornings and the late nights. It is worth the sacrifices we have to make - the sore bodies, the burning legs, the gasping breath, the agonizingly stiff muscles, the blisters, the bruises, the bleeding feet. When you have to push yourself to the very limit of your abilities, to the breaking point, in order to achieve something beautiful, the end result is indescribably worth it all. It is a small glimpse of perfection, the sheer joy of being able to simply dance, the roaring applause of appreciation, the pride of your teacher and memories made with friends.
Dancing is about creativity, commitment, pain, a story being told, growth, challenges, respect, relationships being built, freedom, life, worship, giving glory to God...
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