Born Again Dancer

For three Augusts now, something special has happened in my life as a dancer. In 2008, I rediscovered my love of dance and committed to its practice for one-year . (+dance) In 2009, I celebrated that year -- and didn't stop. I added ballet . (+ballet) I started thinking about " getting a gig ." In 2010, I co-produced a cabaret act with my friends (and began taking voice lessons). (+singing) In 2011, I performed in my sixth stage production, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels . (+more performing) With all the excitement of Augusts, Septembers could easily be letdowns. But this September, a seed of an idea from last winter began to sprout. Over a couple of margaritas, a friend urged me -- for the second or third time actually -- to write more often and openly about my experiences as an adult ballet student. Why? Perhaps because I have some opinions on this subject (especially after a couple of drinks). She thinks that others may relate to it. Here's something interesting abo...

“Kick Lines and Drill Teams and Poms, Oh My!” That’s the headline on my newest issue of Dance Spirit magazine. Actually, the magazine is addressed to my husband. A few years ago he bought me a new pair of black jazz shoes at Capezio, a purchase that led to this glossy mag in my mailbox every month. And every month, I pour over it like it's the 1983 Homecoming Fashion issue of TEEN Magazine . Given that I'm a bit (ahem) older than their audience of aspiring dancers, I feel like I'm reading my daughter's diary. It's not exactly written for me, but I can't put it down. Kinda like men who watch Golden Girls marathons on WE tv. They can’t help themselves. One of my favorite Dance Spirit reads is a front-of-book piece called “Letter to My Teenage Self,” written by successful adult dancers to the memories of their ambitious yet insecure selves. The letters, such as this one by the enviable Broadway star Elizabeth Parkinson , often move me. Perhaps this is because I...