By Madison Huizinga, DWC Blog Editor

As children, partaking in extracurricular activities outside of school isn’t just an option, it’s downright encouraged. For many of us, our parents register us for anything they can to keep our bodies active and our minds engaged: soccer teams, chess clubs, dance classes, you name it. When we transition into high school, we’re encouraged to volunteer, join sports teams, and get involved in our community to bolster our college applications. We channel our time, energy, blood, sweat, and tears into these activities. In many cases, they transform from being mere hobbies to intense passions that help us persevere through our awkward adolescent years. But then, when we graduate high school, something changes. Suddenly, we’re attending our last ballet class, performing in our last recital, and taking our last bow on stage. We’re given our diplomas and then clumsily thrust into college and careers to take on the “real world.” For most of us, our priorities shift to finding a job and taking care of our families. Our competition medals and pointe shoes are shoved to the back of our closets.

The transition from high school to college was incredibly challenging for me. I had been dancing at the same dance studio for 13 years, from when I was a kindergartener to an 18-year-old. The instructors and students had become a second family to me. Dancing and performing were the main parts of my life that brought me joy. And then, quickly, it was all over. My final curtain closed and before I knew it, I was in a dorm room isolated from the community that made me feel my best.

The idea that we must abandon our passions as we transition into adulthood is a harmful norm. There’s an unspoken expectation that people should just discard their hobbies and passions and channel all their energy into their “careers.” But life doesn’t have to be that way. Not all of us have the ability or capacity to pursue dance full-time and professionally, but that doesn’t mean we need to shut dance off from our lives for good.

One way that I began integrating dance into my life post-high school was taking open classes in my community. I started attending open ballet classes at PNB and Dance Fremont and was surprised at how much they challenged me. Many studios offer open classes every day of the week, allowing people to pick and choose the dates that work best for them. Also, most of these classes don’t have an age limit, so they’re open to everyone to attend for as long as they desire.

However, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the open classes I was taking were canceled and I was left feeling a bit hopeless about how I would keep up my technique. I was already dancing far fewer hours than I was in high school, and now I was studio-less and confined to dance in my small basement. How could I possibly practice and improve upon my technique? I pondered. But to my surprise, a variety of free online classes began popping up. I began taking Tiler Peck’s ballet classes on Instagram Live and they quickly became a part of my everyday routine. Many of her classes are still available online today.

On days when I couldn’t find any virtual classes to take, I took myself through my own ballet routine. I came up with a ballet barre routine and exercises to do in the center and executed them as if I was the teacher and the student. Doing this not only allowed me to act creatively, but I had control over how much I challenged myself.

*Photo Credit: Pacific Northwest Ballet*

Also, since I didn’t have a lot of space to dance at home, I shifted my focus to forms of exercise that could supplement my dance training but didn’t take up much space, such as yoga and pilates. Focusing more of my attention on cross-training and strengthening important dance muscles improved my technique in ways I never imagined possible. In high school, cross-training was something I had trouble fitting into my busy schedule. However, as an adult with more control over my schedule, I was able to carve out time to cross-train and witness my technique improve in ways that were once unfathomable.

It’s safe to say that there are ways to help maintain our strength and technique when dancing as adults, due to open classes, online resources, and cross-training, but what about performing? Performing on stage was one of the parts of dancing that was most enjoyable to me. The sheer adrenaline rush, thrill, and pride that comes with dancing in front of a live audience is simply unmatched. Eager to keep this aspect of dancing in my life, I auditioned for a small, local dance company and was fortunate enough to get in! Auditioning for a professional company is understandably daunting to many folks; however, there is a plethora of dance in Seattle, and many artists who are looking for bodies to choreograph on. There is no harm in putting yourself out there and seeing what you get in return, it might surprise you.

Aside from performing on stage, there are also many peripheral ways to get involved with the dance community. Whether it’s graphic design, costuming, artist management, or music production, the possibilities are endless.

This myth that we must abandon our passions when we turn 18 is invasive and toxic. We are the architects of our own lives, so there’s no reason why we shouldn’t continue doing the things that bring us happiness into adulthood. Being joyful and having fun shouldn’t just be relegated to our youth. As adults, we have so much to contribute to our dance community and so much we can learn. Whether it’s pursuing a full-time position in a dance-related career or simply taking on a weekly open class, why not take the leap and see what’s possible.

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Dancing Into Adulthood