Thoughts from Dr. Joe: The elegant theory of dance students
Earlier this month, I attended the Revolution Dance Co.’s gala awards ceremony. Our daughter, Simone, has been involved in the company’s dance classes for four years, and I was there to support her and the other dancers. It was an elegant affair; everyone was dressed to the nines.
In particular, the senior company dancers were highlighted and afforded an opportunity to address their rite of passage through their years of competitive dance. Daphne Smith, Kylie Yates, Xiamara Velasco-Mayner, Elayna Conaty and our Simone presented five lengthy speeches. What I found fascinating were the seniors saying goodbye to the past and hello to the future. The context of their talks centered on the life-changing experiences of competitive dance. They were transitioning to adulthood before our eyes.
I took copious notes of the teens’ comments and recognized my college philosophy professor Sister Audrey’s assertion that what it means to exist is founded in theory, not in application. The speakers’ contentions expressed an acquired thematic belief: never be afraid to attempt and never be afraid to fail. The seniors implied that one never looks back on life and smiles at what one could have accomplished. I believe the dancers understood that the joy of life is predicated on those things that they have already tried and those they will attempt in the future. That’s the big picture. It’s theoretical!
The growth of the children involved with Revolution Dance takes place in the safe and loving environment established by “Miss Julie Kay” Stallcup. She is both soul and inspiration. Kylie Yates expressed this phenomenon by speaking of Revolution’s ethos as a “Comfort and judgment-free zone.” This ethos is reinforced by competent and caring teachers: “Miss Rebecca” Antolik Mala and “Miss Hillary” Morris-Pawlik, Zareh Markarian and Fred Diaz. I couldn’t help but notice their extraordinary influence on the students. It was evident that they had given the graduating senior dancers a remarkable journey.
I found Elayna Conaty’s words profound: “I was young once, and I blinked, and here I am.”
Ain’t that the essence of life? Elayna’s words give credence to the lyrics of Seals and Crofts, “You may never pass this way again,” cautioning us to never to let the moment slip away. I betcha a sawbuck that the seniors learned that life’s not about what you say, but what you do.
In spite of the fact that I was compelled to sit for almost four hours, I enjoyed the evening. I loved Stallcup’s “Ar-Kansas” (Arkansas) phrases such as “You look prettier than a birthday cake.” I was hoping Miss Julie Kay was talking about me, but I knew better.
Watching the evening unfold, I understood her secret. It was found in the dancers’ collective assumption as they referenced a Chaka Khan song in attempting to describe Stallcup. “Ain’t Nobody Loves Me Better than You!”
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JOE PUGLIA is a practicing counselor, a retired professor of education and a former officer in the Marines. Reach him at doctorjoe@ymail.com. Visit his website at doctorjoe.us.
