A time for reflection

Quite a lot of things have changed over the last two months; furlough, working from home, one trip to the shops per week, no school, and a serious lack of hugs. Besides the obvious reality that I definitely spent way too much time in Sainsburys pre-Covid, one factor that personally resonates with me has to be the large group of people going without their much-loved hobbies and activities. I for one would’ve been absolutely distraught if such a thing had taken place during my dancing days. 

As usual, something will fleetingly pop into my head and my brain then goes off on a tangent. I began thinking about how my years of dancing have shaped me as a person, how I have never lost my love for dance, and that I doubt I ever will. As the famous Dr. Seuss quote reminds us, “sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory”.

I danced for quite a huge chunk of my childhood, but looking back the years really did fly by. I danced right up until my education got quite full-on and required a bit of serious attention in order to achieve my goals. Giving only a fraction of my attention to something that meant so much to me just didn’t sit right, and I decided to hang up my shoes with memories of only ever giving 100%. I had a successful dancing career, went on to have a successful educational career, and can only hope to say the same about my ‘actual’ career in the future. 

The hidden language of the soul

It has been a while since I’ve thought about dancing on a personal level; of course I keep up to date with the dancing world day in day out on social media, but this is a completely unrehearsed exploration into the impact it has had on my life. I owe so much to each and every person who was part of that journey.

In particular, the people responsible for my love for dance, my incredibly talented and hard-working teachers.  

The weekends dedicated to competitions, sometimes missing birthday parties and a list of other activities, taught me commitment and the ability to prioritise at a young age; to understand that sometimes decisions have to be made by our present selves to pave the way for our future selves. Thank you for showing me that nothing worth having in life comes easy.

The nights I had class were a quick turnaround between school, homework, dinner and getting myself sorted and out the door. Thank you for teaching me the ability to multi-task, alongside commitment and productivity; we all have the same amount of hours per day, and what we choose to do with those is what shapes our being.

Thank you for making me a motivator. There’s a solution to every problem, and criticism can be constructive. Thank you for challenging me to constantly better myself, for showing me the sun cannot shine without a little rain. For inspiring me to be a leader, and to never give up or look down on anyone. You taught me confidence, one of the greatest gifts I could’ve ever received. 

Thank you for teaching me that winning isn’t the be all and end all of life. Taking part is just as (if not more) important. 

As a 23 year old, I couldn’t list my placements over the years. What I can recall in detail; the memories inside and outside of class, the friendships, the costumes, the competitions, displays and functions, the days spent drilling the same 10 seconds of a step, this is what I remember, and I know I’m not alone. In these moments there was nowhere else in the world I would’ve rather been.  

Dance gave me my ‘can-do’ attitude. The courage to be brave enough to fail at something new. The same attitude I see responsible for my other achievements, both academically and personally. Mistakes, mishaps, bumps in the road don’t define you, your ability to get up and keep trying does. 

Practicing so hard and not placing as highly as hoped… totally unfair and outrageous, right? An excuse to walk away? Wrong. That’s life. There’s ups, downs, and everything in between. Failure, disappointment, sadness, all general everyday emotions. I was lucky to learn this at a young age. I was lucky enough to learn that every disappointment isn’t a personal attack, every feeling of failure wasn’t reason to give up. For every down day in the world of dancing came 6 good days, because for every 7 it remained my most favourite thing in the whole world. Thank you for the blessing of persistence.

I write from personal perspective of an Irish Dancer, however all is relevant to any hobby, activity or pastime that takes up a place in your heart never to be lost. My dance teachers were a few of the first people to believe in me, and responsible for some of my earliest and most memorable achievements. Thank you for giving me a purpose in childhood that has motivated my drive to always have a purpose in adulthood. 

So for all of the above, I thank you. 

“It’s not where you are in life, it’s who you have by your side that matters.”

I still run steps to burn off energy, especially now while stuck at home all day. I put my shoes on at the beginning of lockdown for the first time in a few years, and it was as if no time at all had passed. Dancing continues to brighten my mood, my mum still displays my winnings as though more are due to appear, and I will always call myself a dancer.

It can be hard sometimes; friends from outside of the dancing world won’t always understand why you choose to devote so much free time to something they don’t appreciate in the same way you do. Life will give you the choice to sit it out or dance; I’m glad I gave so much of my time to something I loved, I’m glad I made sacrifices, I’m glad I have these memories. I may not have chosen to go professional, but I can confidently say that dance made me into the person I am today, and I will always be grateful for that. 

To each and every dancer who may be reading this. You will be back. Stronger, brighter, and more determined than ever. Remember, enjoy every minute, because in no time at all you’ll find yourself looking back.

Finally, always #bekind.

Nora xx

BSc Communication Management & Public Relations First Class Hons. Instagram – @noraellenb / Twitter – @noraellenb / LinkedIn- Nora Ellen Brennan.