Butterflies in our Tummies

Spring Session in the Youth Performing Arts School means recital time! Dancing, like most art forms, is meant to be shared. We work hard, we go to class, we practice, we sweat, and we put together a piece for performance. That creation of a work of art, of a piece of dance, is the  fruition of all of a dancer's hard work. It's a collective experience, not only between dancer and audience, but also among dancers. It's hard work putting together a recital, but once we've put in all the work in class, we'll be so glad to be on stage! The lights will come up, the audience will quiet, and we'll dance! Each piece brings more, another chapter of the story. At the end of a great show, we'll all be exhausted, exhilarated, and a little desolate that the show is over.

Despite the excitement that recital brings, despite the difficulty that rehearsals present, sometimes getting on stage the day of the show is the hardest part. Want to know the name of that jittery, jumpy, down-right nauseating feeling in the pit of your stomach? We call it the "butterflies". Don't worry. We all get them. They're the little fluttery creatures in our tummies responsible for our nervousness and for our excitement as the curtain rises and the audience quiets. They're the little reminders our bodies give us to let us know that the performance is special and not just another dance class. They're jumping around inside, clamoring to get a glimpse of the audience before the curtain opens, to see if our parents are watching. The butterflies are nervous, and their excitement makes us nervous. Perhaps we'll forget our steps or trip and hurt ourselves. Maybe we'll be too embarrassed or too shy to dance in front of an audience filled with strangers and our own families. But take a deep breath and remember to have fun! Get excited with those butterflies. It's not every day we get to perform, and it's a reason to celebrate!

"Take a deep breath and just smile. A lot of things can be forgiven with a beautiful smile" -Miss Stephanie

So let's not worry about forgetting steps and tripping. Let's put that smile on our faces and dance along with the butterflies! Remember we're all rooting for you, and we'll be waiting there with our applause ready.