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Amanda Mauro

Growing Up in Dance

Dancing has always been my passion, even as a young child in kindergarten. As I grew older, I became afraid of having my passion for dance being ruined by strict rules and harsh criticism. I just wanted to have fun. I would have loved to continue dancing in a non-competitive atmosphere if the studio allowed for it, but instead I quit.


While competitive dance can be rewarding, there are also many drawbacks that make dancers cautious of transitioning to competitive dance. The fear of forgetting choreography on competition days and judges harshly grading performances may be quite stressful when

competitive dance is involved, according to an article from Santa Clara University.


An alternative option for competitive dance is dance schooling where dancers can express

themselves and learn choreography in non-competitive programs without worrying about

receiving negative feedback for their hard work at the end of the dance year.


Dance schooling was where I felt most comfortable. Recitals allowed me to show off my talents without giving me the anxiety of ruining the performance for my classmates if I messed up.


At our annual recital I always looked forward to dancing with my friends, picking up new

routines, and showing off my dancing abilities to the crowd.


Our group worked countless hours on perfecting our dance routine as we waited for our

performance to start. I remember standing behind the curtain before my team's performance. As we waited to take the stage, all of the girls smelled like hairspray and perfume. The lights were dark, and it was hard to see any faces in the crowd, but I always knew there were many eyes on our dance group.


I'll never forget dancing to the Wonder Woman opening and closing credits song for my

acrobatics class in the first grade. I was dressed in a Wonder Woman costume, along with a

bright red top and a blue skirt with stars. I had a golden crown on top of my head with bobby pins pushing into my hair to keep it from falling during the performance, but I never complained because I like dressing up in costumes.


I truly felt on top of the world, as if I were as powerful as Wonder Woman at the age of six.


Performing was an unforgettable experience, and I will always remember the thrill of recitals and hearing the people applaud for us as we finished our performance with smiles on our faces.


Unfortunately, my smile quickly disappeared when I reached eighth grade. I recall the dancing teacher telling my class at the end of the year that our studio does not allow dancers to continue after the age of 14 unless they desire to join our studio's competitive dancer team for the following year.


I was heartbroken; I didn't want to join the competitive dance team. I wanted dance to still be an enjoyable experience with my friends. The moment had come: either give up on dancing permanently or continue dancing in a competitive environment.


I had chosen to stop dancing because I wanted to remember dance as something fun and creative, not just about winning and losing.


The decision to stop dancing devastated me. I used to think about the end of the year recitals in August. Knowing that I will no longer be on stage seemed like the end of a chapter that I wasn't quite ready to close.


Like me, young athletes enjoy playing sports with their friends just for fun, without the stress of worrying about winning the game.


As athletes get older, the pressure to perform well and to not disappoint their coaches or team grows stronger as they age. According to an article from Usatoday.com by Stephen Borelli, “About 70% of kids drop out of organized sports by age 13 and the so-called ‘professionalization of youth sports’ can’t be understated as a significant factor why.”


Athletes often find themselves torn between their passion for the sport and the need to become more competitive in order to continue playing.


Coaches tend to have their athletes leave the fun at home. They emphasize the importance of dedication to being the best team possible. Since there is so much pressure to be competitive, young athletes begin to question their passion for the game, wondering if they will still enjoy it and if their nervousness outweighs the joy they once felt.


The extensive practices and training that occur during sports once athletes reach competitive levels can lead to a loss of enjoyment for the sport, ultimately causing young athletes to quit early. “This can contribute to a widespread burnout and attrition among young athletes,” according to Borelli.


Adults encourage children to eat healthy and exercise regularly, but when programs begin to emphasize competition, young athletes feel compelled to quit early. Now that they don't have an enjoyable activity to do with their friends, they become less active, which might lead to poor health.


Dance was my only source at staying active when I was a child. I couldn't go to the gym because I wasn't old enough to join at the time.


I realized that I was asking my mother, “What do I do now?” often as my time spent dancing

came to an end. I had nothing else to do with my free time after school; I felt lost. I always

wanted to keep active, but I had little interest in basketball, soccer or other team sports.


It was in the eighth grade that I developed an interest in painting. Painting was an enjoyable

hobby of mine after I stopped dancing, but it didn't bring me the same joy.


When young athletes like practicing sports, they naturally value the benefits of keeping active and maintaining good health. If there is a push for competition, athletes may lose interest in fitness and passion for the activity.


Most young athletes aren't focused on winning or losing, they just want to have fun and exhort their energy. According to Borelli, “The underlying goal for sports should be to have fun and learn lifelong physical activity skills.”


Looking back, I wish I had discovered other ways to continue dancing so that I wouldn't have to abandon my hobby completely because of the studio's rules. I shouldn't have let the studio's policy of stopping dance after the eighth grade discourage me from pursuing my passion. I could have continued my routines at home or tried different dance studios to avoid losing my dance skills at such a young age.


I can't help but wonder where my dancing journey could have taken me as I reflect on my

decision to give up dancing at such a young age. I see people's passion when I watch them dance on social media or on my college dance team. It's the same passion I previously had.


Even though the rules make dancing competitive, I've learned throughout the years that it doesn't have to be. You can dance about anything you want it to be, whether it's the happiness it gives you or the way you want to express yourself. I want to inspire people to keep pursuing their passions. I hope that when my future daughter grows up, she pursues a career in dance and finds the same happiness that dancing once brought me.

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