Lauren Abers

Department of Dance

November 2, 2018

Dance

The dictionary definition of an art is “the expression or application of human creative skill and
imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated
primarily for their beauty or emotional power.” To me dance is an art that is visual for a moment and
then becomes an emotional memory. When I think about dance, I think about creativity and natural
expression.

Dance can be described as a goal that allows a human being to express his/her feelings,
thoughts, and experiences. Though dance has a certain content, vocabulary, skills, and techniques that
must be understood before one can be completely successful in the art form, as soon as those are
learned, they can be broken and modified. A multitude of dance moves were created because someone
decided to break the current barrier and create something new. When allowed to create my own
choreography, I feel the freest. I can create movements that are foreign to my body and/or extend my
comfort zone. Also, I get to show a side of me that is not shown when I’m taught choreography. When I
can feel a song or the story that is being told, I become more emotionally connected to the song.

Additionally, the emotional aspects of dance can change the whole idea or appearance of the
story that is being told. My favorite kind of emotions when it comes to dancing is something that is
strong and powerful or something that is sassy. I like something powerful because I feel that sometimes
people underestimate me. They tend to see me as a weak link and then when I am brought into
something that is sharp and has a strong message behind it, they see a completely different person. I
also love to be sassy. In my opinion, when I am given something that needs to be sassy it is when the
audience see the other side of me shine. I am a quiet and focused person, but when I can break out of
that shell, it changes how people view me.

Dance has been my passion ever since I was four years old. I currently have fourteen years of
dance experience behind me. The style that I have taken the longest is Ballet. I started Ballet in a combo
class at the age of four and fell in love with it. Its beauty and grace caught my attention from day one.
The next style that I have done the longest is Tap. Like most little girls entering dance, I loved the noise
that Tap shoes made. As I grew up, I drifted away from the love of the noise to the love of the fact that I
was creating music that was visual. Though my Tap skills may not be the greatest, it is something that
has changed my world.

Jazz is the style that I'm most familiar with, though I have not taken it as long. At my current
dance studio, I am a part of a group of girls that dances within the community known as the Queen B’s.
Living in a small town, the arts are something that isn't brought to life or out into the community often.
This group mainly focuses on Jazz, even though we do perform in other styles. Being a part of this group
is like taking every style of dance more than once or twice a week. With Jazz being our focus, I have
grown as a Jazz dancer. Second to last is Contemporary/Modern. At the studio that I was at prior to my
current studio, one had to be 13 or older to learn Contemporary. When my current instructor took over
the studio, I was about to be 13 and I wasn’t sure if was going to like it. However, during my tenth year
as a dancer, I decided to try it. I fell in love with the idea of taking ballet and jazz technique and breaking
a ton of the rules. I also found the style that I could most relate to. I loved the idea of taking the
sharpness of jazz and the softness of ballet. I also loved feeling the floor beneath my feet. The style that
I'm least familiar with is hip hop, as I only took it for one year. Though I do not currently take this class
at my studio I would love to learn more of the style.

What I've learned from being a dancer in multiple styles is the hard work and dedication I need
to have for this passion. In my performance group, the Queen B’s we work year-round. We get roughly
two weeks off after recital and then are back in the studio going through technique work and exercises,
as well as strength training. We also are required to be the role models for the whole studio and have
certain rules and regulations we need to follow. As a Queen B I have learned how to perform in front of
people. I also have been able to strengthen my self-confidence. I spend six days a week in the studio.
Classes are roughly an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes. Also, on Saturday mornings I teach a group
of three-year old. They are a combo class that starts off with Ballet and moves into Tap. They learn the
basics of the two styles prior to entering the studio for Pre-K. Being able to work alongside my current
instructor has been the best job shadow ever. I have been an assistant teacher with her for the past two
years and for the year prior I was an alternate assistant teacher who helped when needed. This showed
me that I truly did want to go into the dance field to teach. It also allowed me to learn about the roles
that I would be performing as a teacher myself.

My future goals are to move somewhere warm and become an entrepreneur in dance. Ever
since I was little, I wanted to be a teacher. As I grew older and my passion for dance grew, I figured out
that I wanted to be a dance instructor. The reason I want to start my own studio is so that I can oversee
how the responsibilities are run. I have always been a person who likes to have control of my
responsibilities that are extremely important. I also wanted a place that students could come, grow,
learn and become more confident. When my current dance instructor took over the old studio, I found
home. It became a place where I felt safe and that I could be creative. I want to be able give others a
place where they feel safe to be creative. I also want to have the ability to change people's lives and to
help them in the ways that she helped me. I want to be able to share my passion with others and be
able to create my own choreography.

Dance is the strongest drive in my life. I spend all my time either at dance or dancing around my
house. My mom always tells me that she knew I was going to be a dancer because I was always on my
toes. Having this as my passion is the most amazing feeling. I love that this is my life and that I get to
spend it with some of the best people in the world. I want to keep spreading my passion for as long as
my body will possibly let me.