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I am incredibly thankful for DANCE. Dance has given so much to me, and through dance my life continues to be blessed more and more as times passes. This month on my Instagram, I have shared some of the MANY things that I am so thankful for, some things and people who have been a blessing to me, and just SOME things in life I am truly grateful for, both big and small. To end the month of November and in honor of Thanksgiving, I wanted to post on my blog a "thank you" to a few more people, and tell you about a few more who have made a difference in my life.
I am thankful my parents who took this shy little girl to dance class week after week until I came out of my shell. All the conventions, camps, workshops, and all the lessons they paid for, and all of the driving back and forth they did for me, all without complaint. I am forever grateful to my parents for giving me this lifelong gift that continues to give and bless me each and every day though others I have met, worked with, call friends, and my career. I owe it all to them. THEY gave me a future...this future. I appreciate and love them more with every day that passes.
There are not hours in the day to thank my ALL of teachers properly. Because of them, I love to dance, to teach dance, to create dance, and to watch dance. I LOVE EVERYTHING DANCE, because of those special women and men. From childhood into adulthood, from studios to universities, to camps and conventions, they all made a difference. They created my drive, and instilled my worth ethic. They demanded respect and taught me to respect myself, others and the art. They encouraged me, inspired me, believed in me, pushed me to excel, and turned me into the persistent determined person I am today. They taught me to always strive for excellence, nothing less. These teachers taught more than just dance lessons, more than technique, more than choreography. They taught life lessons. Lessons that I have used in all areas and aspects of my life.
I have had numerous opportunities throughout my training and 20+ year career span that have brought spectacular people and wonderful friends into my life. I am amazed by each opportunity that has come my way. I am so thankful for the opportunity to have been a studio owner. When I was happy, business was great, and thought I would do it forever, God let me know He had another plan. I didn't understand then, but I do now. God indeed had plan. Through those students, I learned to how to teach and knew my passion was sharing knowledge and watching others grow and be their best. Helping others to succeed, not only in dance but in life, is in my heart and is what my purpose is here on Earth. I love those students and their families for cultivating that desire in heart and in the end, pushing me forward in my life's path. They forever changed me. They say that teachers make in impact on students but I also think it works the other way around too. I learned from them, and couldn't, and wouldn't, be half the teacher I am without them.
I'm thankful for my high school English teacher. Because of her, writing this blog and writing for Dance Apps Inc. app with NappyTabs, Dancer's Toolbox, is possible. I am so humbled and grateful for Dance Apps Inc. believing in me and having me be a part of this project. I have to admit, I never in a MILLION years thought I would write anything, and here I am with this blog and writing for someone else.
You, my readers, I am so grateful for you. Every country, every person who has taken their valuable time to read my blog, and every person who has taken time to read Dancer's Dish on the Dancer's Toolbox app, YOU have warmed my heart and brought a smile to my face more times than I can count. Thank you!
I am thankful for every single person, friend, teacher, mentor, dancer, and opportunity that has come into my life through the beautiful, strong, yet delicate, art of dance. My friends, whether you were or have been in my life for a brief moment in time, you were or have been in my life for years, or just recently came into my life, you were and ARE a blessing to me. I quote the famous song often, "I get by with a little help from my friends". I AM THANKFUL FOR YOU. All of the dancers I have been privileged enough to watch (and some watch grow up before my eyes) at dance competitions and at studios, they have touched my heart as I've watched them push the art form past any and all physical limitations. I have loved getting to know these sweet dancers I see year after year and their precious families from all across the country. Every student that I have ever had to honor to teach on a weekly basis, what am honor it has been. I have been touched by all of "my students" and love them more than I could ever put into words. I absolutely love the fun and fabulous dance teachers I have met at competitions or in their studios. We may only see each other once or a few times a year but we always seem to pick up right where we left off. The same goes for that dance friend I may not have seen for 10 years but it's still like no time as passed. That's how you know you really built a true friendship. I AM SO THANKFUL FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. You all have touch my life and I am blessed in many ways because of you.
For the studio owners who have believed in me over the past 20 years, bringing me into your studio to work with your dancers, I am eternally grateful. Thank you for the honor. It's a privilege to be a part of your dancers' education and training. I love what I do and YOU allow me to share what I love, and share the knowledge that my wonderful teachers have graciously given to me. THANK YOU. I also love having the opportunity to learn from you. AND you never know what you can learn from a child. I thank you for the opportunity not only to teach and educate but to choreograph. It brings me unspeakable joy, and it's just the coolest thing to see your thoughts come to life in reality. It's amazing. Thank you for trusting me to create on your dancers. A special thank you to the studios in California, Michigan, and Louisiana that gave me my start and first jobs in guest teaching and guest choreography. They believed in me and took a chance on me. I will always have a special place in my heart for them and those dancers.
I am thankful for my mentor that came into my life when I was 21. She made me a dance educator. She trained me in judging, and asked the important question my first year of working as an adjudicator, "How long do you want to be in this business?" She then said, "Well, let me teach you." She taught me how to judge and how to be a good judge. She also took me from a dancer to a teacher to an educator. She taught me the difference, and more importantly she showed me the difference. I struggled with the transition in each stage, and she carefully and loving guided me though. When she called me a dance educator, I cried. Most importantly, she has remained a true and dear friend all these years. I adore her and owe her so much. I am forever grateful.
I must thank the one who brought me into the "competition world". He taught me starting at a very young age about business, merchandise, customer service, and all about the industry. I learned what I liked and didn't like, how things should be done and shouldn't be done. I also met some incredibly great people through him and that job. Last but certainly not least, I must thank the one who kept me in the "competition world" when I thought I wanted or needed to leave it. He showed me that I still had a passion for the business, and that no matter what, sincerity and honesty was always the right way. He gave me hope again in this what can be a crazy world. He extended his hand of friendship and became a brother. Both of these men took a chance on this "southern belle". I thank them from the bottom of my heart for believing in this loud, opinionated, strong-willed, determined, spit-fire, southern, sometimes hot mess, of a woman.
God provides amazing opportunities, and if you trust Him and push past your fears, wonderful things can happen. I give thanks and remind myself of this daily. God opens the door, but I must trust and walk through the door. I am thankful that He continues to push me out of my comfort zones, that he prunes my life (even when it's almost too difficult to bear), and that he provides opportunities that surpass my wildest dreams. My life didn't turn out, and isn't going as I planned it, but as He planned it. I have to admit, His plan sure did turn out way better than mine. I AM THANKFUL.
Dance hard. Dance smart.
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