Collegiate Dance Pros & Cons

In High School I would rarely get to hang out with my friends because my most spoken line was "I can't, I have dance." This was amazing at the time, I was in the studio getting the training for what I thought was going to help me become a professional dancer. I loved dancing and the people I danced with, along with my WONDERFUL teachers. They helped me find my true passion for ballet and I don't know where I would be without that. I can't help but envy those dancers that have a strong enough will-power to know that collegiate dance is not for them. I knew this sooner than I wanted to allow myself to believe but it was the only thing I knew and I was way to far in the game to change my major without it being a complete waste of time. Dance obviously has a special place in every dance majors heart - whether it is because you have been dancing since you were 2, or have been watching Tiler Peck's every performance for 10 years now, or WHO KNOWS the reason and who cares; but we all share a love for it which is really fricken cool.

I love and hate dancing in college because I would have forever had regrets if I didn't follow my old passion in high school of becoming a professional dancer. This intense style of dance does prepare you in a way that if you are considering professional work post-grad then you will figure that out about yourself, and if you don't want to dance a single day for the rest of your life you will also figure that out (which I doubt is the case, we all love dance too much). Collegiate dance ruined my passion. It took the love I had for ballet and everything surrounding it and threw it on the ground. Maybe I went to the wrong school, but I am thankful for that because in the midst of losing my passion of dance, I found new passions that I want to pursue further, like yoga and working in the non-profit field. Without dance, I might not have ever come to these conclusions about myself and my life could be so much different.

Freshman year was a scary time for me - I didn't bond with anyone I was meeting at my school and I missed my friends and family back in St. Pete. The dance classes weren't helping either because it felt like we weren't progressing. Our savior came in to teach a ballet class the second semester of my freshman year. Who knew someone who didn't even care enough to learn our names that day would become my best friend later on. We had the most fabulous ballet teachers our sophomore year on and that changed my entire view on this program. I know without them, some of us for sure would still not be here (me included). I think the key to a successful college dance program is having teachers that can bond with the students. Does it take away their authority? Maybe a little, but in the end it's what makes the students feel like this is an actual home and more able to open up and be honest with their teachers.

I know every school in a college is going to have its problems, but it felt like there were more cons than pros in our little world. Collegiate dance is annoying because it is preached that it is just like the "professional world" but actually isn't at all. There are still unfair advantages some people have, especially when it comes to casting. And trust me -if you think being a dance major is easy you should check out this article by Camryn Eakes. Seriously, this is the biggest slap in the face. I don't think anyone actually realizes how much we have to work to for this major and how little free time we really have. Most of us our double majoring - my double major being Business Administration - guess which major is more difficult??? Dance.

Dance for me was an outlet and a form of expression, but also something I loved dearly. Being forced to do things in this department I didn't want to do showed me that this wasn't what I was meant to do in life and I am ok in that. I still love dance and everything it has made me be as a person, there's so many traits that I have gained from this art form that non-dancers might not ever figure out. Do I wish I came to this conclusion a bit sooner, before choosing my college major? Yeah, maybe, I would be less busy that is for sure. But I am glad things worked out the way they did.

I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to perform throughout these four important years of my life and wouldn't change that for the world. I also met some stellar people along the way that I know I am going to stay in touch with forever (s/o the bros & mom & all of the last man standing). I can't imagine what I would do if I wasn't spending every night in the Wynee Warden Dance Studio on campus or every morning at Florida Dance Theatre. Dancing has formed me into the individual I am today, whether I like that or not. I wouldn't be where I am without it or without the wonderful teachers put into my life because of it. Even though I don't see a profession in dance in my future, doesn't mean I will ever leave it completely. I don't think that is possible for anyone who loves dance enough to major in it. I am just thankful to be where I am now, because without it that would be impossible.