A dancer’s reflections on the teachers, friends, and quiet moments that help us keep moving forward.

Whoever said that one has to stand tall on their own probably didn’t have a dance teacher. That teacher who walked up and corrected their posture. Who helped them to stand tall, to reorient how their foot pointed or their leg angled. Or by simply looking and breathing at them could make them stand tall and move beautifully. To identify our own physical and emotional strength and stand tall. I sent this to some who actually put their arms around me as dancers do and literally lifted me up, even when my feet were firmly on the ground.

Even though that person, that dancer, is the one who’s standing – ultimately responsible for being vertical – there have been many others along the way to guide them, to help them stand tall. To stand straighter, to stand stronger. That friend or fitness trainer. That teacher or coach.

There are those times when we are not around the teachers and coaches, or we are alone – or nearly alone, such as now for me – and have to pull up those memories. To straighten our shoulders back and to lift the chest and to walk and step in some direction as if we are confident and graceful. 

To hold ourselves up and carry on. Not to “Keep Calm and Carry On,” but the dancer knows to carry on and move with energy and strength and vigor, to move with the rhythm of life, to always be fit and look good (regardless of how you feel – the show must go on!) and – with all of our strength – pull out an intention that leads us forward. Life has no backstage or green room. 

“Life is a musical!” I often say – we dance through life (I could expand upon my Tango Walk someday… ). Sometimes our lives are choreographed and sometimes improvisational. Perhaps you, or perhaps I have helped someone point their foot or their leg or to stand tall. Perhaps a new teacher will show up at some point to help re-orient this foot. 

Perhaps we will simply dance together. So simple: under the stars and the moonlight with the musical rhythms of the evening breeze mixing with ocean waves carrying us each into tomorrow. When we dance to a new day. 

“When you walk to the edge of all the light you have
and take that first step into the darkness of the unknown,
you must believe that one of two things will happen:

     There will be something solid for you to stand upon,
     or, you will be taught how to fly” (Patrick Overton)

A teacher does both, so does dance. Dance through life.