13/01/2023
To My Students,
Hi, it’s me. Your Dance Teacher. As I’m writing this, it’s January of 2023 – but no matter when you are reading it, know that the sentiment remains the same.
Maybe it’s been a while since we’ve seen one another face to face in the dance studio like old times. Even if we have been fortunate to gather for in-person classes, you may not remember what my smile looks like behind the face mask. But, I want to assure that it’s still there – beaming ever more brightly every time we dance together, whether it’s in the studio or online. Because, and I mean this with all my heart, I am just so darn proud of you.
Since the onset of the pandemic, I’ve been trying to put myself in your shoes. How would I respond if I, as a young(er) person, were navigating the world today? The more I think about, the more certain I become of the answer: Likely, not very well. Or, at least, not as well as you are, especially when it comes to your dance training.
Dance has been my passion for as long as I remember, and I knew it would be a huge part of my career path from the age of 9. But that passion was never tested, at least not like yours has been. Sure, I had my ups and downs in the studio, but … at least I was always allowed in the studio – with my face fully exposed to the world, to boot. I may have doubted my potential for a future career with a dance company or as a choreographer, but at least those options always felt available to me as a young person: I was never looking head on into the potential short-term collapse (at least economically) of many sectors within our industry. (My apologies for the dramatics, but after the year we’ve had, you deserve for us to tell you like it is.)
No matter how long we danced together, no matter how long it’s been since you were in my class, know that you will always be one of “My Dancers,” and there will always be a special place in my heart for you. I am here – and will be – for whatever you need in these “uncertain times” and in
