OK, I haven't blogged in forever -- and I know there is no excuse for how long it's been since I've blogged, and I feel very stupid to just pick up right here. Almost 9 months later here I am blogging again, feeling stupid...but I just had to write about my experience this past week...I just had to.........
As you know, I'm a dancer, a christian dancer. But unfortunately my christian dance studio is closing down this year, and my wonderful dance teacher Becky Allen who has been my dance teacher for the past three years, well, she's teaching somewhere else.
Since the studio is closing down, we are all going our separate ways...and it's sad to think that this past week of my life, that those five short days are probably what I'm going to remember most about my wonderfully amazing teacher. Thank God I had an awesome time. ;)
Miss Becky had set up a dance intensive for all the girls in our dance class, and 6 of us ended up coming. She had planned everything out, set up times, the dance studio--everything.
I remember being tired the first day, but also very excited, because I hadn't seen anyone for almost two months-since our dance recital. All I could think was, "Oh, this is gonna be so much fun...but I can only imagine how sore I'm going to be by the end of this week!"
By the second or third day I was sore, but I didn't really pay to much attention to it. I was having to much fun laughing and dancing. I would have to say it was probably the best week of my summer.
My favorite part was improv. Just being able to express myself for who I am, without caring about what other people think about me, and being comfortable around the six people in the room with me, who also felt that freedom was just so amazing.
I began to dance freely and to feel like I was dancing for God, and no one else...
It was like no one else but me and God were in the room, and I was dancing for him. And he loved it...
My favorite improv game was the one where we would stand in a circle, and one person would have to think of something and act it out. Meanwhile...the rest of us couldn't laugh or make a noise, and if we did, it would be our turn. It was soooo much fun. We ended up calling it "The Laughing Game"
We also played "Action, Reaction." I also loved this game. We had to look at one person (in the circle still) and do something. Then that person would do the same thing back to you, and make something up to the person to the right of her, and it would keep going until we all ended up on the floor laughing our heads off. (ok...that never happened because we obviously never made a trip to the emergency room saying our head wasn't on...but you get the idea)
Also, one day we had to bring one item that someone could wear-not knowing what we were going to do with them. Turns out were ended up doing a little skit with them. Miss Becky gave us something to act out with our things, and we had to do it. It was pretty crazy, and more than half the time I couldn't breathe because I was laughing to hard. I loved it-every little piece of it. The things we had to wear were:
Me: A crown
Meradith: Shell Necklace
Maggie: Fairy wings, dance skirt, and headband with stuff on it
Kirsten: Scarf and feather -- looked like a Indian something-or-other
Hannah: Paper bag with holes for eyes and mouth...it also had make-up on it too! ;)
Stasia: Bracelete made out of paperclips
It was so much fun.... ;-)
Okay, so I'm making this seem like the whole week was a piece of cake. Like I didn't work hard at all. OH, but I DID!
I was sore. My back, my stomach, and I had bruises on my shoulders from shoulder stands. :-/ It hurt! Miss Becky new it hurt...she new she was torturing us (just kidding) but she did it with a smile on her face anyway!
There were times when I got frustrated to no end and I just wanted to curl up in a ball and die, but I lived. ;)
The last day I got so mad at myself and thinking that I was stupid, because I made up a little "phrase." (a short dance) I got so mad because I liked what I did at first, but after doing it for a while I got so mad at myself because I got bored of it...and I didn't want anyone to see it. I just broke down then and there and started crying because I felt stupid. Like I was worthless, and I couldn't think of anything to do. Like it was stupid because I had made it up--but if someone else had, it wouldn't have been.
I remember feeling out of place, but yet...I didn't care, because I felt safe in that room with everyone. It was like they were closer than family-if that's possible.
I don't know how to explain it, but I loved to be able to say something without being unsure of what everyone would think of me. And, I just wanted to say thank you to everyone...thank you so much for being there and thank you soooo much for letting me make a fool in front of you guys! ;-) I really appreciate it!
Hopefully I'll see you all very soon...but if not, just remember, I will always love and remember you. Always...
I hope to write later, but for now.......later.
OK, doesn't this look creepy?
Ella was caught off guard with this one
All the girls...except Ella -- she's behind the camera
Silly picture. Emma took this!
Love her
Abigal and Ella at Yoders
Cole
Hangin' out at Yoders
My buddy Cole. He wouldn't let me take a good picture of him. :(
Being silly. . .
Peace out Man!
SUPRISE!!!
They all got their make-up done, and loved it.
Hannah doing make-up.
Giving me Additude
Sometimes I don't understand. . .
We Played dress-up with the little girls.
In North Carolina:
Hannah playing Guitar Hero
Jeff and Mrs. Renee
Moira
I've been babysitting a lot lately...and it's made me realize two thing.
My own sisters...
