My Studio Safe-Haven
One of the most significant places in my life is undoubtedly my childhood dance studio, A Time For Dance. The studio was a second home for me growing up, especially during my high school years. It was my home for laughter, relief and everything else I needed after a long day of school and work.
Physically, I’m sure it was just your typical small simple dance space. Basic purple and pink walls wearing signs that say “dance like no one is watching” or some other cheesy dance quote. A mirror that stretched from wall to wall and ceiling to floor, with ballet bars covering every other available wall. One corner holds the stereo station, contained in a tall, white cabinet. And the dressing room was filled with collages of pictures of past graduating classes — something we definitely looked forward to making once we were seniors.
To me, it was like the doors were magical. As soon as you stepped in the studio it was a completely different atmosphere than the rest of the world. People were happier, more outgoing and never afraid to be themselves while they were there. It was a breath of fresh air amongst the rest of negativity the world threw at me.
I made some of my best friends at A Time For Dance. We were a family. We built a special bond that could never break, I mean, we did stick around each other through those awkward pre-teen years. Throughout the years we were able to watch each other grow in skill and personality. There was never a time we didn’t encourage one another, on or off the dance floor. We stuck by each others’ sides no matter what.
Our teachers were our greatest role models. They were able to combine laughter and learning in a way that made them like our pseudo-moms and best friends all in one. I will forever cherish some of our sincere, heartfelt conversations about things you couldn’t go to your actual mom about. I couldn’t thank them enough for the incredible impact they had on me growing up.
After dancing at the studio for over ten years, you build a lot of great memories. My most memorable experiences don’t even involve the routines or the music or even the performing but all the chaos that surrounded that. All the long breaks between classes where we would sit in the dressing room and talk about anything and everything. Or the picnics we had out by the parking lot to waste time on nice nights. As well as the random pizza parties we always found a reason to have, costume making nights and dinner and line-dancing outings.
Some memories are fonder, and yet more bittersweet, than others. My senior year recital was one of my most defining experiences with the studio. A Time For Dance has an annual tradition in which they feature the senior dancers in their own solos; where they are seen on stage alone for the first time in their career at the studio. Nervous as could be, I took the stage and performed my routine just as I rehearsed a million times before. Was it perfect? No. But that didn’t stop all the other dancers from running out on stage congratulating me. Now THAT was perfect. And THAT was what made leaving so difficult.
The studio taught me many lessons over the years. I learned that you should never stand with your arms hanging by your sides, to keep your knees straight and most importantly your toes pointed. I also learned to have faith in myself. To encourage myself and others to keep trying, even when things seem impossible. Lastly, a lesson I will keep with me forever, I learned that it’s okay to enjoy something you’re not the best at. Do what you love and love what you do.
I try to visit the studio whenever I’m back home, although it is tough sometimes. The studio is different. The walls are no longer you’re typical girly pink and purple, and there’s new decorations on the walls. Also, after graduating so many years ago now, all the girls I attended with are gone, leaving only a few “little girls” that I only remember because I saw their faces peeking into the studio doors in amazement while our class practiced. The feeling is different. I guess I realize now that it wasn’t quite the place that made me feel safe, it was those friends it provided me with that made it matter.
So thank you, A Time For Dance, for being my safe-haven for more than a decade. I hope you have such an amazing impact on all the future dancers who walk through those magical doors.
