Competitive VS Recreational

Competitive VS Recreational

    If you’re like me, I was born and raised in the dance studio. It was my second home. I ate, breathed, slept and dreamt dance. When friends from school asked me if I could go to the movies, or have a sleepover, 99% of the time my answer was, “I can’t I have dance.” If I could have slept at the dance studio, I probably would have! It was my life. I was also a competitive  dancer. I knew there was more to be expected of me. I was a part of a team and I made a commitment to not only them and my teachers, but to myself. Being a competitive dancer made me work harder and kept me motivated to continue improving at each competition we entered that season. I entered my first competition when I was six years old and competed all the way through my senior year of high school. Competition season was my favorite season. I couldn’t imagine spending all my free time anywhere but the studio or on stage. 
        Not all dancers have to be this way to be an excellent dancer. There are many professionals that have never been a competitive dancer. And there are some dancers who strictly do it recreationally, and have no desire to turn it into a career which is perfectly fine too. Dance is a great way to spend free time, make friends, and get a great workout in the process. Dancing, especially at competitions isn’t a time just to collect awards, or recognition. It’s an opportunity to share an experience on stage to continue growing as a dancer. However, dancing, really any sport on the competitive level can be expensive. This is a big factor as to why some dancers don’t compete. If you are a recreational dancer, it doesn’t mean without hard work you can’t continue on to make it career. There are so many great competition dancers  I know, that after their competition days were over, so was their dancing days, and that’s ok too! You get what you take out of each class you take, and even if you don’t dance every day of the week, the days that you do, you put in 100% and give it your all, and practice on your own in between, can turn into talented and beautiful dancer.