Assignment 2: My First Recital

The rapid footsteps all around me, the smell of harispray entering into my lungs, the hands of instructors pressing gently but with a purpose on my back; I may have only been three years old but the memory is still vivid in my mind. It's the memory of my first dance recital.
I could hardly wait, I had been practicing those simple steps that I had learned in class over and over in front of my family and now it was finally time to show them off. I excitedly put on my costume, the sequins scratched up and down my arm as I swinged them back and forth but I didn't care, it was my big day! The heat electrified of the curling iron that was being twisted through my hair releasing each time a long brown curl. The elastic tightened as my bow was placed on my head. Before I knew it my mom was bringing me into the room that held the 3-4 year olds. The room mom was handing me crayons and paper to keep me busy while I waited for my turn. I looked around and began to feel something wonderful build up inside me, all of my friends were in the room and they were in their costumes too. I then realized that this was a special day because we were all dressed up and my friends were talking about their grandmas and grandpas being there to watch them. Soon, I heard a lady come into the room and say it was time for us to go. The commotion of voices and pushing began to become overwhelming and I quickly grasped on to my best friends hand hoping she understood what all of this meant. We were brought behind the backdrop to wait for our turn. I could hear the wild cheers from the crowd as the song stopped and the dance before us ended. Butterflies raced through my stomach. We were frantically told to hold our neighbors hands and before I knew it my feet were swept out from under me by the force of each person being pulled. I quickly began to pick up my pace and found my X on the dark stage. I could see my dance instructor smiling and showing us our first position. Then, the music blared and I began to bounce up and down with the rythm. I could hear shouts of encouragement and saw my family cheering for me. I followed along with my instructor and delightedly smiled at all of the faces watching our dance. When the dance finished, the roar of the crowd washed over me. I could hardly contain my excitement while I held my ending pose until the lights went out, then I darted off the stage right into my mom's arms. I loved every second of that recital and it turned out to be apart of my life ever since.

Dance

Dance and music have been apart of my life since before I was born... literally. While my mom was pregnant she would put headphones on her stomach and feel me move around. It has been in me ever since. As a baby, I would automatically start moving my body to the beat of the music. I was enrolled in dance by the time I was three. I grew up loving to be in the spotlight and expressing myself through my dance. I never really have been open with my feelings, but once I step onto the dance floor every part of my soul pours out and I let my feelings take over. I can express myself through many different types of dance, but the one I prefer is hip hop.
Though many people don't think so, hip hop does require technique and control. You have to train your body to lock and pop, be loose then tight and hit with the beat of the music. Facial expressions are also very important while dancing. To entice the audience you must show your love for the dance not only through your movements, but in your face as well. This helps the audience make the connection between the music, the choreography and your emotions. Your feelings can be shown in big, exaggerated movements or in little intricate motions.
People dance for a lot of different reasons. For me, it's who I am. It's like breathing; I've got to have it to survive. Dance allows me to release all the stress from the world and take it out through my body, to let my movement do the talking. It gives me a sense of power and confidence that nothing else can really give me. Dance is part of my emotion.