I’m Melissa Dufault, I’ve taken dance lessons from the best dance teacher in my opinion, Mary-Jane Leonard, and I thought it would be a great idea that because I love to write, to do a couple articles during this year of dance. I’ve been doing dance for 4 years and it’s my 5th year, my second year in the intermediate line. Besides dance, I love to horse back ride and take care of the horses, play soccer and have fun with my dogs Tucker and Reilly. I hope dance will never leave my head because I love it more than I should, and it always takes me to another world.
Mary-Jane Leonard is one of the most amazing people I know. Her studio is in Green in a small almost house like place, she’s so much fun to have as a dance teacher because it seems like she always wants to have a good time with her students.
There is always at least one, usually two senior dance students to help us get our moves down. They always bring more fun to the studio with their dancing and funny comments, most of the time they act like mentors.
I never understand it when the kids who do dance don’t want to go. I always end up getting so pumped up for class that I watch an old dance recital and run around the house singing to the song. Trust me, you don’t want to be there when I do because I’m a horrible singer!
The beginning of the year isn’t as fun as the middle and the middle isn’t as fun as the end or recital, I guess what I’m saying is that as the year goes by it gets better and greater. To get all you readers to understand what I feel when I dance, well I can’t exactly do that, but I’ll try and bring you back to my first recital…
‘BREATHe IN. BREATHe OUT. BREATHe IN, BREATHe OUT.’ I was talking to myself to stay calm. The music was going to come on any moment. . . right on cue. The lights. . . right on cue. My Heart beating faster and louder inside my chest. . . far before cue.
I went on stage sure everyone could see my fear, sure I was going to trip and fall over all the people in front row.
‘Remember Melissa, shuffle, shuffle, step. Ok, change spots, flap step, flap step.’ Saying my words in class always helped me remember, saying it in my head was just as helpful.
The song was ending, was done already? It couldn’t be. But it was; it was close to the end as all four of us came together for the pose. For the big ending, the ending of my first time dancing for all to see, the ending of that thrilling feeling of dancing on stage.
When it was all over I was ready for the next one, ready to shine on stage a few more times until I’d have to stop and wait for next year.
Now hopefully you know what I’m talking about, what I feel when I dance. Don’t get me wrong, we work really hard to be the best we can be. Doing a recital takes a lot of time, brushing up on our steps, brainstorming for songs, looking for costumes, getting down your moves almost perfectly.
Right now Mary-Jane’s students are just about to decide on songs, which means we are soon to start learning the dances. The dances that will be in this year’s recital; the recital I’m itching for.
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