~Dance In Public School~

Dance has made its way through the world, making a difference in the hearts and lives of individuals for centuries.  Through dancing, human beings have been able to take stances, share opinions, and relate so much more to entire generations, than words ever could, without speaking a single word.  To me that is powerful.  What have the dance styles said about past generations, and what are they saying now?  How has dance as an art form changed the way people perceive the world, and the issues that surround them? 

There are several reasons dance was and is still performed today. It is performed for social reasons, political, spiritual, cultural, and for entertainment.  Of course the styles have changed and adapted over time, but the principles of why it is done still stand. We might dance at a wedding for social and ritualistic reasons, some dance in Washington to covey a political stance on a subject such as immigration.  Why do you dance?  Do you go dancing at Sky Bar in Bricktown on Friday night with your friends, or is it that you can’t dance at all? Is it that you are the awkward “jelly fish” of the group who wouldn’t dare grace himself or anyone else with his presence of the dance floor? Well coming from a dancer, that’s probably a good idea. You still want to somewhat impress the ladies.

The fact of the matter is that we all dance, even if it’s just in front of our mirror alone in our room, in the car listening to our favorite 80’s album we listened to when we were kids, or at your very own wedding (sorry boys its gonna happen sooner or later). We all dance in this country, but it would be nice for awareness of dance and the essence of it to be conveyed in all seriousness to others so that they too can experience the richness that it holds firm within its grasp.

Dance as an art form is loosing its velocity, its momentum, its meaning. I think the main place that dance is missing is in public schools.  “Yes” answers the average everyday teacher, politician, or parent when asked, “Is childhood obesity rising in this country?”  Then why the hell has nothing been done? I am sorry but running suicides for a half hour in 5^th grade for exercise doesn’t make you want to loose weight or eat better, it makes the child want to go home and eat a box of Twinkies before he actually commits suicide. It does nothing to increase the overall betterment and well being of the child.

Through dance we have the opportunity to help people with their health and their self esteem and to also teach them to be well rounded.  By creating a dancing program in public schools, we are not only helping the kids to stay healthy, but creating for the kids an environment where they learn how to take care of their overall wellbeing. We are teaching them the art form of dance so that it is more highly appreciated and not considered “gay” when he wants to be well rounded and play football and dance. If it’s that we want our children and our population in America to be highly educated and less fat, why it is that in public school education arts; especially in dance is not deemed necessary to teach our children? Changes need to be made.



My first dance recital when I was 5. It was a ballet called "The Gift" I was a red bird, my very favorite color.



Me at around the age of 17.