Rationally, I know that, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." Thank you, Eleanor Roosevelt, for pointing that out.
Irrationally, I find I am hypersensitive to the insults of others. Why are people so cruel? Do they not realise how others perceive their attitude?
I have loved dancing ever since I can remember, really. I know I found and played all the old, full-size record albums my parents had. Bless them for having A Chorus Line and Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass! I wonder what sort of choreography I did to those. I know I got into ballet class and progressed enough to make it to pointe shoes. Tap was a blast, too. Mother and I used to practice with a record we'd speed up to challenge ourselves. I even took clogging. That was cool.
When I got to high school I spent three of my four years at a performing arts magnet. I'd have to say that the jazz (dance) teacher was one of the most inspiring teachers I have ever met: Gary Harrison. I took as many of his classes as I could afford. I also loved taking from the ballet teacher at Terpsichore: Patsy Bromley. She had danced with Gelsey Kirkland and gave us a lot of useful advice.
Fresh out of high school I thought perhaps a life in the performing arts wasn't something I needed to do. I soon discovered that it was. I did a dance audition and got a job at Walt Disney World. I spent roughly six years working at the parks -- a couple of different Disney ones and Universal Studios.
Yes, it's true that an inability to pick up choreography and style quickly enough got me cut from rehearsals for a show one year. Other than that though, I'd say a fair percentage of my time at the parks was spent as a professional dancer. I had two amazing touring opportunities with The Disney Fair and DisneyFest, both dancing. I've met some of my deare
st friends dancing on ships, too.
One of my favorite performing memories is of getting to do 48 performances of
Seven Brides fror Seven Brothers as Dorcas (also dancing). My brother partner and I made our crucifix lift 47 times.
Since then I have danced in the opening ceremony for the Rugby Sevens for five years, and the
WorldofWearableArt awards show for four years,
Guys and Dolls (as Miss Adelaide),
Cats (as Jellylorum
), and
Cabaret (as Texas). I have choreographed and taught a few numbers that the Musical Stars kids performed last year.
I may not be good enough to get into most professional companies, of whatever style; but I am, most definitely, a dancer.
