I should be writing my paper for legal history on where law is a reflection of societal changes between the Civil War and WWI, but I feel like writing a post instead. The paper cane wait. It’s not due until Monday. Panic hasn’t set in yet.
So, as some of my followers may know (what? I have followers?!), I have started taking ballet classes again, allowing ballet and dance back into my life after almost 4 months off. It was physically painful to go back. Now, the pain has gone and my body has accepted the fact that I am dancing again, and my soul is singing. As I dance, I can’t help but smile. It is great to just move, and feel pretty, or whatever the music demands of me. To jump and turn and push myself. It’s amazing. This has also led me to long to perform again. What’s the point of trying to master a performing art if you don’t perform it???
So, that brings me to my current dilemma. I have been told it is one or the other, dance or law, black or white, left or right, path one or path two. You can’t have both so pick one and stick with it (I’m terrible at making a decision when it comes to dance vs anything else in life). So, I say “why should I have to choose?” I demand grey!!! Why can’t the two paths mesh togeher? i want to be a freelance attorney and dance for contemporary dance companies. Just because I don’t know if anyone who has managed to pull it off doesn’t mean it can’t be done. I know that dancer’s have a clock ticking, telling them they are getting too old, but contemporary dancers last longer. I know law school is expensive, but if there is a will there is a way.
Eventually I have to pick something to fight for. I guess now is a good time as any to start. So, I pick this. The road to law school just got to so much more complicated.
Evolutionary Life 
I’ve never danced professionally, but I danced through out college and performed a good bit during that time. I can’t afford studio classes anymore … not until I’m working at least! I don’t foresee any performances, other than rocking the dance floor at a club (maybe) once a month, but the itch never seems to go away!
I make up my own classes and follow some Finis Jhung DVD’s at home these days. Earlier this year I had to deal with pilodonal disease (If you don’t know what it is, you might not want to … it’s pretty horrid). I’m just now getting back to a normal range of motion. Of course, as a dancer, the range of motion you strive for is FAR beyond what’s natural. I’ve definitely lost a lot of strength and flexibility, but that just encourages me to keep going (Shhh, don’t tell my body it’s 30, lol).
This has been a pretty slow and painful process. However, I find that NOT dancing leads to even more little aches and pains. My body just craves the movement! And it keeps me in a much better place emotionally as well. What a beautiful way to work off any stress that life brings!
Keep dancing … regardless of what else is going on in your life!
Natalie, Thank you so much for your comment. I completely understand the body craving dance. It is a great stress release. I’ve been much calmer this week since I started back to dance.
Thanks for sharing your experience!
Don’t ever stop following your passions. If you’re passionate about dancing – DO IT. Make time for it, because you’ll regret it if you don’t.
For some reason, I immediately thought of this video from Fresh Prince (not sure if you’re a fan) – but it’s an episode where Vivian goes back to dance class, following an old passion, and proving to people that she’s not too old. Priceless!
Hahahaha! Thank you for that, Matt! I hadn’t seen that clip. I don;t really watch tv, so missed out on Fresh Prince shaping my childhood.
Thank you for your wonderful post and your show of support. I really appreciate it.
Great post! I know what you mean about being pulled in two directions, and how there is something you are so passionate about that you just can’t leave it out of your life. I totally agree with Matt: you have to follow your passion and make time for your love of dancing, because otherwise life isn’t going to be worthwhile if you’re only doing things without passion. For instance, I absolutely love to write, and whenever I stop writing creatively – especially poetry – the urge to write again comes back very strongly, and cutting it out of my life is not a good option. It’s better to incorporate both: passion & stability.
Thanks for your comment. I know what you mean about not writing as well. It applies to this blog post as well. I originally planned for it to be this great post. Asked other dancers for opinions that I was going to quote and it was going to be thought out and proofed. I put it off as I tried to focus on my paper for school. But, I pushed it away so much that it finally just exploded out of me last night and posted in all it’s unedited and non-quote containing glory. I’m glad you still enjoyed it.
Maybe White Plains would be a good fit for law school – really close to the city and a ton of contemporary dance groups, and SUNY-Purchase also has a dance program. There are *always* performing opportunities ’round here.