09/03/2026
Sometimes I am not sure parents fully understand what they have registered their child for.
Yes, they registered them for dance.
And, of course, their child is going to learn to dance. They will learn steps, terminology, technique, and how to perform.
But that is only one piece of what is really going on.
They may have just discovered the place where they belong.
Every week, they walk into a studio where people know their name and are happy to see them. They find a group of friends to dance with, laugh with, and grow up with.
They get to lose themselves in the music and movement.
And for a little while, they are away from their phones, electronics, social media, and all the noise that has become part of growing up today.
They are also surrounded by teachers, mentors, and leaders who can become important voices.
Dance changes lives.
I have seen shy children learn to stand in front of a room. I have watched children struggle with something, become frustrated, and discover that they could keep working instead of giving up.
I have watched friendships begin in dance studios and last for decades.
I have watched children grow up with teachers who believed in them, challenged them, and helped them find their voice.
And so many of the lessons do not become clear until years later.
Parents think they registered their child for a dance class.
What they may not realize yet is that they have given their child another place to grow up.
That is what dance can be.
