Between the ages of 6 and 27 my life focused around dancing. I had other identities, sure. I was out-doorsy, loved to cook, began practicing yoga and becoming a runner in my teens, and even worked for a few years as a whitewater raft guide.
But dance was who I was as well as what I did.
When we moved to Peru in January, 2009 I had every intention to seek out dance there. And I tried. I even attended two classes and a few performances but my heart and head weren’t fully in it. EVERYTHING was so foreign to me there. I felt completely disconnected from my dancer-self, in fact I felt pretty disconnected from myself in general while living in South America but that’s a whole ‘nother story.
So I let the dancer rest.
And into deep hibernation she went.
Honestly, as much as I love Charlottesville I never would have moved here if I was an active dancer when we were looking. There are some very talented and ambitious dancers here but it’s a small town and the support and opportunities are very limited. I’ve taken a few classes, met a few movers-and-shakers, attended a few shows. What I really needed was someone to light a fire under my ass and remind me that, among other things, I am a dancer.
Trillium Performing Arts to the rescue!
I grew up dancing in Trillium’s dance school and after high school was invited to teach, choreograph, and perform. While in college I returned to perform and choreograph again. Next week I will once again return to the Trillium stage to perform as a guest artist in their Spring concert.
You can read more about the show here.
The above photo is from the last time I performed, September 2008. I was a guest in the company Tere Mathern Dance and yes, we are dancing in a fountain.
The fountain is in downtown Portland and was designed by the famed landscape architect Lawrence Halprin. Halprin was married to a dancer and designed the Charlottesville Downtown Mall.
Dancing is my happy place. When I dance I feel confident, strong, comfortable in my body. And I feel nothing, it’s a moving meditation where there’s no space for thoughts, concerns, or questions. On my two+ year dancing hiatus I’ve managed to find this happy place in other activities; running, hiking, biking, yoga, but nothing fills and fulfills me the way dancing does.
I sincerely hope that you have something like this in your life. What is your happy place? Time with your spouse, children, family? Playing music? Writing?
Wishing you an extra happy Wednesday!
What a beautiful happy place. I love hearing/reading people talk about — not only a “passion” — but something that creates a strong, comfortable, powerful sense of self & body. It was so nice to read this about you.
My strongest moments of presence & confidence have come when I am completely connected with the rock & my body only (when rock climbing). Growing up, playing the piano was my happy place & still is, though I am on my own hiatus until I can move my piano here.
I wish I could see your performance. I wish you the best experience!
Wish I could see the performance!!
I am working on performing at The Bridge over the summer. 🙂
I LOVE to dance! I took dance at the Juanita Wilson School of Dance in middle and high school. Is she still there? Not sure. I also did plays and choreography at Four County Players. Oh, and I was a cheerleader (if you can believe it).
Nowadays it’s just Zumba and boogying down to live music…though I also toy with the idea of taking jazz again.
My fulfillment nowadays is getting dirty in my garden and in the woods camping 🙂
Yeah, I forgot the mention watching my garden grow on my list of “happies”. Wilson School is still around!
I was reading and thought, I KNOW that fountain! 🙂 one of my favorite places in my beautiful city – I used to go there a lot when I worked downtown…
I used to have that “thing” with tennis – I lived and breathed it (played tournament level and taught).
very exciting for you to be dancing again – have a wonderful time!
That’s great that you recognized it! We started on top of it without the water and turned the water on partway through. It was fun and scary to be on the ledges when the water started gushing!
Playing the piano used to do it for me. Now I get lost while walking and often while reading. I do miss the piano at times. I haven’t played in 23 years. Wish I could see you perform.
Thanks Johanna, maybe I’ll have to put the video online!
I can totally relate! I started dancing at age 5 and danced all the way through college. Ballet through high school and then modern dance in college. I intended to keep dancing after but when I started law school it just totally disappeared from my life. I’m 27 now and would love to start dancing again. I dream about dancing sometimes. I’m also 8 months pregnant so I won’t be signing up for any classes at the moment but I’m thinking it might be an awesome way to get back in shape after the baby comes! I worry that I’d look foolish or be so out if dancing shape though! Do you worry about that?
Hi Sarah,
I have been really pleasantly surprised that a few years off hasn’t hurt me at all. Obviously I’ve stayed active so, while dancing uses your muscles in different ways than yoga and running, I am still “in shape” for it. My technique may even be better now than it was before because I am less self-conscious and not trying as hard as I did in my early 20’s. I feel like I was able to let go of all those ways that I <thought I danced and just dance the way that felt right NOW.
Give it a go!
Also, no one has to know how much training you have ;).
I like it Faith so interesting 😉