My Inspiration to Dance

Pretty much anyone who is involved in a sport, music, art or any passion has someone they look up to. This person can be someone that inspired them to engage in this activity or supports them along the way. For me as a dancer, that person has done both. Ever since I was little, I watched my sister, Hannah, join dance classes and perform at recitals and competitions. I would see the joy that dance brought to her life and the beauty and grace she had, which made me want to also be a dancer. I followed in Hannah’s shadow growing up, wanting to be just like her and taking an interest in whatever she would do. I first joined ballet classes because I wanted to follow in her footsteps, however I was able to add in my own personality and take my own path when I switched to hip hop classes. Although I wanted to be just like her, I still had my own individuality and was able to find something that I felt more passionate about.

I continued to look up to Hannah as she entered high school and joined the dance team. I attended every performance and videoed each dance, watching them over and over to try to learn some of the moves and tricks. Watching her made me want to be on the team more than anything, which is what I did when I entered high school. However, as I worked to find my place in the dance “world”, I found myself worrying that I would not be as good as her. I thought that people would be disappointed when they saw me, a hip hop dancer with little technique, follow up Hannah, a flexible ballerina with impeccable technique. As I grew up, though, I realized that we are two totally different dancers. She has her obvious strengths and I have mine, which makes us unique in our own ways. This is why I am going to bring her into my second “The World of Dance Podcast”. I do not have as much background on many dance styles, but she does have that added experience and can bring in a new perspective. Hannah can talk about her experience with the different styles she has tried and talk about her struggles and successes as a dancer. She is sure to add a new dynamic from the opposite end of the dance spectrum and I would not want anyone else to discuss dance with me.