Assignment 21: Sarah

             I am involved in many activities both in school and out of school. One of these activities is dance. I have danced since I was 2 years old and have changed studios many times throughout my life as a dancer. I have danced at Tracy Stones, Gotta Dance, and I have danced at Barbra Ann’s School of Dance since 2^nd grade. Pointe is my favorite type of dance, but I also participate in tap, ballet, jazz, contemporary, and hip hop.

             When I got to Barbra Ann’s we were placed in classes based on our dancing ability, schedules, and height and I was placed with girls that were 2 and 3 years older than me. Because of the age gap I was often left out of the cliques and was not very involved in the group. This was very hard on me because I had no real community at my dance studio. It was a group of girls who, although they weren’t mean to me, they weren’t particularly nice either. Once I got to middle school many of the other girls in my dance class were moving into high school and my mom believed it might be better for me to move down a group, so I would be with people closer to my age. I did not mind leaving the people in my class, but it was very hard for me to join a new group of girls I had never met and move down a level of difficulty in my classes. After many tears and arguments, I did move down a level. I struggled fitting in and was once again left of my group. However, one good thing came of it: through that group I met one of my closest dance friends Maddie Klumb whom I still take classes with.

             Through the difficulties of interacting with girls in my classes and moving down a level I have learned that I need to make a conscious effort to welcome everyone to our dance family and show everyone that they are a part of our group. It can be very hard to switch studios or groups, especially with judgmental girls everywhere you go, so I have now learned how to be more supportive to new girls at my studio. Now, having moved back to the top group at my studio I have been able to learn how much hard work it takes to get better and I intend to continue working my hardest to improve.