What Does Dance Mean To Me Essay

Life holds many gifts for those who wish to take them, some come in the ability to play a sport, paint a masterpiece, or perform on a musical instrument. All have the chance to take their talent and use it in their life’s work, to place their individual stamp on history. My passion, the gift that molds my personality, demands more than a sport, paints the masterpiece in brush work strokes of effortless movement, and possess the music through grace. As Albert Einstein put it, “Dancer’s are the athletes of God.” Throughout my life God uses dance as a tool to form, train, and discipline my personality into what He wishes it to become, He allows himself to work through me with dance, nothing else gives me the same exhilarated feeling or happiness, and because of ballet I have gained qualities that will serve me in life. Ballet will always remain my gift to make the world a more beautiful place.

Colossians 3:17 states, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Some obey this command through speech, spreading the word of His love with their tongues, others in service, or ministry, and still others with their specific talent for the Lord.

However what can I possibly do with the talent of dance other than committing it all, time, talent, and total joy, to Him. Before the Lord had found it right to move my family from California to North Carolina, I and a group of good friends created a successful dance team for our church, raising over one thousand dollars to give towards the fight against human slavery. Every step, turn, rise, and glide I devote to Him to use for His good work and will. The beauty in ballet reflects God’s beauty, the elegance translates God’s grace, and the harmony between the music and movements mirrors our relationship with His. I supposed ballet becomes the way I get to give thanks to all that He has

done.

Leonard DeVinci had the first dream to fly, to have the ability to soar through the sky over the rustic tree tops or across the dazzling ocean, to frolic with the birds in the wind. Everyone dreams of that exhilarating moment but few every get to actually live it. Because of dance I have experienced that dream, I can re-tell the experience of floating on air, only touching earth for a split second and then I am flying once again. Dance gives me the feeling like nothing else in existence. Through dance I can narrate my thoughts, feelings, prayers, I have the ability to translate the language of music with graceful movement, and I can remain poised or suspended from the ground, tied down only with the very tips of my toes. When I dance everything else flies from my mind or off of my chest. I no longer remember the stress building up from my for boding English 4 assignment, nor do I remember to worry, feel discouraged, or fret about anything. One of the most happy and exciting moments will always remain the split second before the curtain rises and I get to share my joy with others. Hopefully they can read the joy within me coming straight from God, the One who gave to whomever asked, the ability to soar.

Often times in life someone will receive a spot or position that you deserved, for a long time you will not hear a word of encouragement, at any minute you could find yourself replaced, your spot given to someone else. Every one of these situations happen and will always remain an obstacle hard to conquer in many ways. Yet a dancer faces these exact situations multiple times a week. If they wish to remain in good favor with the director they cannot complain, pout, become outwardly angry. Sometimes they will find themselves cast in a lower role than they should have, yet they must cheerfully take it and show that they can dance the role better than ever. Through ballet I have learned to take these moments cheerfully while showing how I can do my absolute best. I have learned to work extremely hard at whatever challenge I find placed before me, and I can openly, calmly, and naturally take criticism or harsh critique. Without a doubt dance has provided me with the skills to cheerfully take the extremely hard circumstances in life, I otherwise would not know how to handle.

What you do with your life will become the mold for your personality, what practices you perform can serve as training for further on in your future. God can use little to create a huge impact in someone’s life, God chose ballet as a way to shine through me, sharing His love through my movement. As the years go by I have discovered that I do not simply enjoy to dance, without it I could not function. I would never experience the same thrill and joy doing something else. Through dance, I have learned to work my absolute hardest, I have learned how to handle incredible disappointments, and I have learned how to take critique with a smile. I have not waisted the years I have spent dancing, through it I hope I have shaped my personality into the person I want to become.