This weekend I had the privilege of going to a dance convention in Hamilton. It's called Phoenix dance workshops, and is held annually where a bunch of choreographers and professional dancers from the States come down under to teach hundreds of dancers aged 12 up to advanced from all parts of the upper North Island, choreography from a whole bunch of different genres.
Then as the weekend goes on, the ones who shine get chosen to perform in front of the whole convention or scholarships to go study in the states or come to the convention the next year. It's a great chance to learn new stuff, push oneself to learn tons of chorey and perform it quickly, and meet other dancers; like Beyonce and Justin Timberlake.*
Then as the weekend goes on, the ones who shine get chosen to perform in front of the whole convention or scholarships to go study in the states or come to the convention the next year. It's a great chance to learn new stuff, push oneself to learn tons of chorey and perform it quickly, and meet other dancers; like Beyonce and Justin Timberlake.*
* Not actually but the Blue Power Ranger was there for a bit
I first went to these workshops when I was 12. It was just before I started getting self conscious and I wore glitter on my face so I would stand out. I still remember some of the hip hop choreography (that was to Justin Timberlake) and lyrical that was to Cindy Lauper's 'True Colours.'
Year after year I got excited to go back, but remember feeling pretty nervous. I loved performing and learning all the new steps, and putting myself in the front row, but always felt like I had to hold back so as not to show off in front of the other people from my class who had been raised in tall poppy syndrome society, and because it was also one of the few times we got to socialise outside of dance class I didn't want to ruin my chances at making friends.
The choreographers would give us all-American inspirational pep talks "this is your moment!" "I want to see you!" "I know it's hard, but if you really want this, show me."
I had forgotten about those until this weekend, where we got the same schpeals.
This time, it was nice to listen to the pep talks and know what they are talking about, rather than shy away from them impatiently because I didn't know how to show them who I was inside because I didn't know that myself.
It took me right back to listening to the same schpeal all those years ago, I felt that same heavy feeling in my heart of "I'm not really trying my all, because I'm afraid/ not good enough/ too fat/ don't want to show off."
But thus time around, I shook that right off and kicked butt. (My sore body the next day proved it.)
Well, in spirit of this and also that 2018 marks 125 years that women have had the vote in NZ (we were the first in the world you know!) AND that I turned 28 this week, here's a brief list, cliche as it is, of what I would have told my teenage self before going to these dance workshops.
1. This is the place to give it your all- that's not showing off.
2. Don't be affected by others' opinions, hair styles, crop tops or splits.
3. You have some unique creative quirky ideas. GO WITH THEM.
4. You forgot the steps because your brain was full of comparing yourself? Stop it.
5. Being from America is cool, but being from NZ is way cooler.
6. The other girls from dancing go to a different school than you and that is probably saving you a lot of drama, even though you feel left out most of the time.
7. You are so so lucky to be here. To afford it, to afford dance shoes, lunch and all.
8. This is setting you up really well to get used to handling rejection. Yay!
9. RELAX
10. I love watching you light up a room.
Jj
