This was a really great read, thank you for sharing!!
I also stopped dancing and doing gymnastics around the end of elementary / beginning of middle school. The competitive nature (which had been present all along, though to a lesser extent until that point) was intense and sucked the play and joy out of it for me. It just seemed like it had become a popularity and income contest.
I still dance at home for myself and sometimes with my family. I'm learning to re-relate to dancing in a way that's healing. I still enjoy watching dance competitions where folks really push their technique. And soaking up content from folks like Nurjahan Boulden, who focuses on empowerment and heritage in her dance practice, is incredibly helpful, too.
I'll stop the ramble and info dump style musings here. But I'll continue to think about what you wrote here. Your story and thoughts brought up some very good points and I appreciate it!
This was a really great read, thank you for sharing!!
I also stopped dancing and doing gymnastics around the end of elementary / beginning of middle school. The competitive nature (which had been present all along, though to a lesser extent until that point) was intense and sucked the play and joy out of it for me. It just seemed like it had become a popularity and income contest.
I still dance at home for myself and sometimes with my family. I'm learning to re-relate to dancing in a way that's healing. I still enjoy watching dance competitions where folks really push their technique. And soaking up content from folks like Nurjahan Boulden, who focuses on empowerment and heritage in her dance practice, is incredibly helpful, too.
I'll stop the ramble and info dump style musings here. But I'll continue to think about what you wrote here. Your story and thoughts brought up some very good points and I appreciate it!
I love that reading my post made you think of your own dance experiences. Thanks for sharing.