Might As Well Dance

Another long day. I'm exhausted--physically, mentally, and emotionally. After working an 11 hour day today, I'm close to crashing. Why am I still up? That's easy. Dancing with the Stars is on. I'm re-energized!

Have you seen this show? The reality competition show pairs professional dancers with various celebrities. Together they practice a routine, choreographed by the professional, to be performed for a live audience. Each week a couple is eliminated for having received the lowest score, a combination of the judges' assessment and calls of support from the television audience. Each week I watch clips of the week's practices and I look forward to seeing the performances. Donned in glittery costumes, the dancers are fun to watch. I find myself quickly picking my favorites but I root for them all. I think of how amazing and yet how frightening I would find it to remember such seemingly complicated routines with that large an audience watching closely.

I wish I were a better dancer. If I were to share with you my five top wishes (of selfish persuasion), that would be one of them. When I was in high school and began auditioning for musicals I began to regret that I had never taken dance lessons. To this day I still remember being envious of the fabulous dance costumes that I knew dancers wore in recitals! I particularly wanted fringed arm sleeves and a fringed skirt too. But it wasn't all about the fashion. No, I wanted the talent. I wanted the romance and the passion. I wanted the joy of dancing.

It's no surprise that I quickly signed up my two daughters for dance lessons when they were just three years old. Each has danced for years. I admired their skill. Sydney auditioned for and made the dance team at her college this past fall. She also recently danced beautifully in a theatrical performance. Emma continues to dance at her dance school and on the stage as well. As for me, I've been lucky to be cast in roles that allow me to learn choreography for musicals despite my lack of training. A few years ago I even took a few weeks of dance classes before an illness shut me down. I was hoping to learn some basics but after a scary infection I then lost confidence thinking I'd missed so much. I did not return. I always think I'll return but in the meantime I have my show. And to be completely honest, I'll always have my kitchen. Over the years I may not have donned glittery costumes but I have danced. As the popular saying goes, I dance like no one is watching. And most of the time, no one is watching. However, like the stars on Dancing with the Stars, I have had amazing partners, namely my husband and each of our children.

I might not have the glittery costumes but I do not need fringed sleeves to be energized by dance. Whether in the audience or doing my best not to make a fool of myself on the stage or in my own kitchen, I find and experience the joy of dancing.

We're fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance. ~Japanese Proverb