What's next?

Hello all.
Tonight was my last night of my last Tech Week ever. I have spent the last twelve years dancing for Washington Dance Studio and now it's all coming to a close. It seems like just yesterday that I was dancing in Blueberry Pie as a fresh kindergartner. Just kidding, that was a loooooong time ago. But I do remember the royal blue costumes with the sequined skirts and the blue hair piece. I had a bob back then, so I was extra adorable. I remember I did a dance about sunflowers in first or second grade. I did a dance to some song from Sesame Street. That was awesome. I remember my first year of jazz, we did a dance to the song Oklahoma. Those costumes were so fun and twirly. I did a dance with chairs to Who Are You. I also did a jazz dance to Sunglasses at Night and wore black trash-bag jumpsuits. Super awesome. There were so many dances that I'm reminiscing on right now (I just spelled reminiscing correctly on the first try) and it's making me super depressed. But remembering all of the fun times and dedication that I put into  my dancing years is good.

When I first tried out for Junior Company, I was a fresh-faced seventh grader with the notion to take over the world. Just kidding, but I was ready for a challenge. I had taken the required number of ballet and jazz classes to be able to try out for the company. When I got the news that I had made the team, I literally started crying because I was so happy. That was my first year of doing a character jazz piece. The next year I tried out for Junior Company again, but didn't make it. I remember sitting at my eighth grade track meet, icing my shin splints, when my mom texted me saying that I didn't make the cut. I cried a lot then also. It's safe to say that I cry a lot. After that I almost gave up on dance. But Jennie, our super awesome dance instructor, gave us some wise words. She said, "just because you don't make it, doesn't mean that this isn't your thing. It just might not be your thing at this point in time." (That's not actually a direct quote. I kind of improvised). I was so devastated about not making Junior Company that I didn't try out for company my ninth grade year. That was a huge mistake. I remember watching from the wings at recital as they did a super awesome choreography to the can-can. I've never, in my twelve years of dancing, been in a kick line and it makes me kind of sad.

For my tenth grade year I tried out for Senior Company and made it! That was the year that we did my favorite dance. It was a lyrical piece to Fix You by Coldplay. First of all, Coldplay is one of my all-time favorite bands. Second, the costume for that dance was so awesome. Third, the choreography was just amazing. Being on Senior Company was strange for me because everyone already knew each other fairly well from the previous year, so I was mostly the odd one out because I'm sort of an introvert. After that year, I became more and more self-motivated to do well. I took advantage of doing across-the-floors and practiced at constantly improving my leaps and my turns. I remember my first year back from taking a break from being on a company, I was so bad at doing turns in second. I thought they were the devil. But now, I think I'm pretty dang good at them.

So anyway, back to my main point. Tonight was the last night of Tech Week. We've been practicing since last summer. This Friday will be my last full recital. I have nine dances, nine chances to prove everything I've learned in the past twelve years. I get to show how much I've improved in my strength and grace. I get to prove that I am strong. I have the opportunity to show how well I can perform. I've literally been working for the last twelve years for this very weekend. I will go out on that stage on Friday night and give everything I have. I have poured my heart and soul into dance and I will pour my heart, soul, and every fiber of my being into performing for the audience.
It's going to be awesome.

I guess I also just want to take a second to thank my fellow dance sisters. You all push me every day to be better than I was the day before. Sometimes we get grumpy, sometimes we're silly, but you will never find us unmotivated or not dedicated to what we do. I also want to thank Jennie for being the most amazing dance teacher ever. She has the most amazing personality, morals, and thoughts about the world. She tells us every day that we are beautiful and amazing dancers (my goodness, I'm tearing up right now).
It's been real WDS. Thanks for the memories.
Peace.