Allison+Kreider

This I Believe. . . I believe that movement can bring you so much freedom and joy. This joy is something that not everyone can understand. You have to put yourself out there to really experience it. Sometime this means, you have to make mistakes and look stupid doing it but from there, you will be able to grow. The joy that growth bring, is indescribable.

This movement can come in many shapes and forms. It could be anything from playing basketball to being a cheerleading, from playing the piano to being a dancer. This all involves many hours of practice and true dedication. You have to work hard to achieve your goals. But when you reach that goal you set, that is when you feel the freedom and joy all around you.

I started dancing when I was ten years old. For dance, this is a late start. Most people start when they are either four or five. I was behind everyone my age which made me work hard in class every day. I was determined to be able to be in class with my friends. I practiced everyday at home and it paid off. Within my first year, I learned so much. I gained flexibility, strength and technique. The next year, I was asked to be in the young dance company at the studio. This was a big honor and I’m so thankful for all the teachers that helped me get to that point.

Over the years, I have continued to grow in my dance technique. But technique isn’t everything. This took me a while to understand. There was one day I asked myself, “Why do I dance?” I always thought because it was fun but it is more than that. Dance is a form of expression. Every dance you do has a story. It is the dancer’s job to portray this story to the audience. When you are in that moment, it’s unlike anything I can describe. I read this book once about a dancer and they put it like this, “I couldn’t tell where the music stopped and the dance began. Dance was more than a thing I did. It was my definition and my strength. It could reach out and bring me back to myself. It made me real and whole and strong. No one could take it or keep me from it. And no one, except maybe another dancer, could understand how it feels”.

We all have something we love to do and bring us so much joy. Other people don’t always understand why it brings you this joy but what is important is that it does. Don’t every let anyone stop you because they think you’re not good enough or that it’s dumb. Joy is something so personal, no one else will ever understand how you feel. Take pride of what brings joy because it is your definition and strength.