A love story...

How I love to dance, let me count the many beautiful ways.  Dance nourishes my body and soul.  It lifts me when I'm feeling low. It tones my body.  It brings a wonderful sense of discipline to my mind and life. And, it allows me to share one of my greatest loves with family and friends, and friends to be.  

​My foray into the dance world started at age four, when my mother took me to my first ballet class.  Love was instantaneous.  I couldn't wait for ballet day and getting dressed up in pink leotards and ballet slippers, and, of course, my beloved tutu. Off we would go, my best friend and I, unleashing our inner fairies  in the "big room", where we twirled and leaped unencumbered, without any concern for bumping into furniture. In my mind, I was a lovely fairy, fluttering about (ever so delicately) among the flowers and butterflies....until that fateful day when our instructor informed us that we all sounded like elephants. Our enthusiastic jumps, we were told, were not very ballerina-like.  I remember the day clearly, as I and my visions of fairyness landed on my little girl tippy-toes with a disappointed thud.  

​Fortunately, my love for dance was stronger than our strict instructor's scorn.  Unbeknownst to little girl me, I would take the criticism of Ms. J....and that of others like her....and stash it away, only to resurrect it as a young adult with a commitment to nurture the body and soul through healthy, creative expression, nutritious food, and conscientious exercising.  ​

Ballet has carried me through early childhood and into adulthood, and will continue to stay near and dear to my heart. Classical ballet provides a wonderful foundation for many dance forms and I'm grateful for this.  However, the way in which dance is expressed is very important to me.   I'm a big believer in healthy dance expression for people...and fairies....of all ages, in a fun and encouraging environment.  

​Let's dance and be happy!  What else is there?   
by Arianne Makarenko