People dance for different reasons. Some people dance to get better, some people dance to rehabilitate themselves, some dance for fun, some it’s their livelihood. We live in a world that’s forever changing and so is the dance industry. We’re surrounded by people that don’t want to only dance for themselves but for their team. To represent your high school, dance school or university are all ways of doing this, and eisteddfods aren’t the only type of competitions these days. There’s All Star, and depending on the style and competition you do, your team can change drastically.
When I first moved away from my hometown and dance school, I learnt that there’s such a bigger world out there rather than just doing dance exams or technique classes. I was never one to excel in technique or even really care about it. It was the expression that always took me through and what people saw in me. So, moving into All-star dance where I could be part of a team and representing my university was very exciting. While technique is always going to be a part of dance as well as solo growth, team dancing can challenge you but also support you in the most wonderful ways.
The idea of always having someone there is exciting and encouraging. It’s not such a solo activity anymore. Of course, just like everything there’s self-evaluation; ‘Am I good enough? Am I the worst person on stage? Am I letting everyone down?’ While evaluating your skill is somewhat important when it comes to scoring, it’s not something you should judge yourself on when participating in these competitions. You’re part of a team now.
A team is so much more than what is performed on stage. It’s the two minutes your team is awkwardly waiting to get on stage. It’s the hour you have spent warming up and going over steps. It’s the hours you have spent at rehearsal. But it’s also about what happens after you perform. The celebration. The time spent together travelling and dancing. Being there for one another and enjoying the company and love you share for your team.
So, I want to encourage every performer. Don’t just worry about the two minutes you’re on stage. Worry about what you bring to the team and the smiles you can share while you’re doing the things you love. Dancing is a way to express yourself. Express yourself through an emotional lyrical piece, a fierce hip hop routine or even an over enthusiastic and energetic pom performance (which might be the hardest thing you’ve done but the most rewarding – well at least for me, it’s my favourite). If after that two minutes you can stand there with your team and say you gave it your all. If you get to congratulate each other on the experience you all just poured your heart, sweat, tears and most likely blood into. That can be better than any solo experience you might have, because you get to have it together. It’s a unifying.
Team logos can also be a significant unifying factor for team dancing. Much like other sports, dance teams can also wear team logos on their costumes or uniforms. When you’re a part of a team you might feel a bit dorky wearing it but one day you might find yourself wearing it because you love it. You’re proud to wear it, because you’re proud to belong to something, and no one can take that away from you.
And as we notice the seasons change each year, dance can do the same. You might focus on a solo career, then move to do classes for fun or become a part of a competitive team or even teach. There’s always a time to start and a time to end. It might be shorter for some compared to others, just like winter seems to come and go quicker than summer at the moment. Whatever season your life is currently in will definitely have an impact on what kind of dance journey you take. Perhaps a solo career isn’t for you, but a dance team is. I’ve learnt that that is good, and that is enough. It is good to surround yourself with people who all have the same passions as you. Who support you, and who will celebrate with you. It is all very good.
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