Here is my daughter in all her glory in her first recital. |
She is nine now and still loves dance. In fact, she just finished a competition season and was able to perform two dances at her recital. For weeks we listened to her latest routine song blaring from her bedroom and the sounds of her feet moving to the music. Her instructor chose Chris Brown's "Turn Up The Music" for the hip hop routine and I have to say, it was fun to hear. It's just one of those songs that make me want to get up and dance.
I have always loved music, yet I'm not a singer. I mean, I can carry a tune and my family used to sing together in churches growing up, but I am confident record companies won't be beating down my door. Something else goes on inside of me when I hear a good song, and I recently realized that it's tied to dancing.
On one of my walks I was reminded of two very pivotal and heartbreaking moments in my young life that had a way of telling me that dance was NOT what a "good Christian girl" should do. I really hadn't given those experiences much thought over the years and had no idea they carried pain inside of me. Isn't it interesting how people around me put so much shame on me that I took a passion and pushed it aside? It makes me sad for the young adult me, but I will not dwell on that. This time of my life is for realizing who I am and for restoration.
My next mission: to dance. Maybe I will sign up for a class or two. Maybe I will just dance my way throughout my day as I do laundry, make dinner, or have fun with the family. However I incorporate it will free me to be who I am supposed to be. You probably won't see me on the next season of SYTYCD...but I will cheer on my daughter as she explores her passion and deepens her love for this beautiful art form.