It’s Moments Like This That Make It All Worth It

Though I work as an internet marketer and SEO guru (at least I’m working on it) by day, I am fortunate to be able to teach dance one night a week at a local dance studio here in Utah. Sometimes it is challenging due to girls that don’t care enough, or worse, their parents not caring enough and thinking that the hour their child is at practice is simply an hour that they have a scheduled babysitter. I am not a babysitter. I teach dance because I love it and I want to share that passion with the next generation.This year the girls I teach are a lot of fun and they in turn have made teaching more fun for me. Regardless of this, I still have a few girls who are less than interested in learning how to do a proper pirouette. But the dance gods have been kind to me this year and blessed me with one girl who stands out above the rest. Last night I even heard her say a quiet “Yesss!” when she found out we were going to do barre work. No one ever cheers for that. Did I mention how much I adore this girl.

It seems that the adoration I feel for this tiny dancer is mutual. I received an email from her mother yesterday complimenting the dance studio on its professionalism. Then came the part that made me feel all warm and fuzzy. While discussing some changes since the Christmas break that she is making to another of her daughter’s classes, one I don’t teach, she mentioned that-

“She loves ballet and missed Robin tremendously over this break!”

After a comment like that I don’t even care that she spelled my name with an “i.”

Celebrate The Season With Mickey And Friends

Five years ago I was working at Walt Disney World. I had just graduated from college the previous May and a few weeks later I had packed up my car and moved to Orlando. I stayed in Florida for just over 7 months, which was enough time to see a little dream of my fulfilled. My Christmas wish came true that year when I was cast in the Christmas show on the castle stage, called “Celebrate The Season.” At first I was just excited to get to wear such a glamorous costume for a change (love the top hat), but the two months I spent in rehearsals and then performing this show are some of my favorite memories of working for the Mouse. Recently I found this video of my show on YouTube and being Christmas and all, this is my gift to you.You’re welcome, and have a Merry Christmas!

P.S. For a good look check out those Santa girls about 2:20 in. You can also find parts 1, 3, and 4 to piece together the whole show.

Super Gleek

So in case you haven’t heard, FOX has a new comedy all about life in the lower rungs of the Glee Club. And in case you missed last night’s premiere you may not know that it is my new favorite show on television. I was born to be on this show. They sing, they dance, they are overly dramatic. Hello! Imitate my life much?

Since they cast it without my knowledge I am going to have to settle on watching it like the rest of you. But that won’t stop me from exhibiting my inner gleek and performing my favorite songs for Mr. S. around the house. One of which is the cover they did of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin.” I couldn’t find a video version so this will have to do.

And if you find yourself singing along, I am in need of backup singers. Contact me for audition information.

Flip Flop Challenge: My Lips are Sealed!

When I was in school parent-teacher conferences often went like this:

“Robyn is a really good student, if only she would talk less.”

In high school, I was once even accused of being at fault for another student’s failure. My teacher said I was too entertaining and distracting to my friend and that is why she failed. I’m pretty funny when I want to be. And for the record I passed the class.

Where am I going with all of this? Well, for the first time when someone asks me to “shut-up” I am going to oblige. And no, icicles are not forming in Hell. I just happened to come across some very good advice and I am going to apply it to the fitness challenge I am currently taking part in. Since reading this article I have decided that I will no longer give weekly updates as to my progress. I won’t be telling you that I have made it to the gym two mornings this week, plus a dance class. And I won’t be telling you that I am down another pound. But I will let you know when I have won.

I Am a Dancer and So Much More

For as long as I can remember I have been a dancer. Before I was old enough to start lessons of my own, my mom would take me with her to my older sisters’ lessons and I would mimic the dances being taught. And while my 2 sisters eventually gave up dance lessons to pursue other interests, I stuck with it. For 18 years I stuck with it. Through years of recitals, sequins, rehearsals, bruises, fatique, and performances.

I wasn’t always the best, nor did I have some of the natural flexibility and skill that some of my fellow dancers had. But I had plenty of passion for my art. I loved performing for a crowd. I loved the way the collaboration of music and dance made me feel. I loved that dance allowed me to become someone or something else. And I loved that through dance I could express my innermost thoughts when words would not allow me to.

The past ten years of dance have been a little different. In fact there were long periods of time when I was pursuing my education that I didn’t take my dance shoes out of their bag. Not because I had lost my desire to dance but because finding a good class or the time was near impossible. Unless you are lucky enough to perform on a professional level, classes as an adult are often more simplistic in nature and less challenging. And yet I was always searching. Fortunately in Salt Lake there have been opportunities. I have taken classes through Repertory Dance Theatre’s Community School, enjoyed the occasional class at Gold’s Gym, and for the past 3 years my friend, Shirene, has taught a great adult class at a studio in Taylorsville. I even spent some time performing at Disney World. Probably as close to a professional dance job as I will ever get.

For the past 3 years I have also started teaching dance on a part-time basis. I knew I couldn’t perform forever (bathroom performances excluded) and this is a way for me to continue doing something I love and sharing it with the next generation. Why all the sappy reminscing? I suppose it is because for 28 years I have been a dancer. I suppose it may be the realization that although dance is and always will be a big part of me, I don’t have the desire I once had to make it the central theme in my life. Defining myself by one thing doesn’t give an accurate portrayal of who I am. I am a new wife, a future mother, a travel enthusiast, a marketing professional, a motorcycle babe, an amateur blogger, reality tv junkie, AND I am a dancer.

Small and Super Things #3

1- Made my first strawberry-rhubarb pie with a homemade crust to boot. And it didn’t suck!

2- A lazy Sunday afternoon eating above said pie for lunch. That’s right, nothing but pie.

3- Another season of SYTYCD has begun. If you aren’t sure what that means I may have to rethink our friendship. And if you do know what that means, and we don’t know each other, I may have to consider a new friendship.

4- My first solo motorcycle ride.

5- Almost 10 months of wedded bliss.

Flip Flop Challenge: Week 2- Even Steven

After a much better second week I am happy to report I am back to my starting weight after loosing the pound I gained during week 1. Not phenomenal success but an improvement.

I had a lot going on and missed my regular dance class on Wednesday, but made up for it by attending my kick boxing class the next day. I call it ‘mine’ but truth be told I haven’t been in months. I love this particular kick box class, but since getting married I have only attended a handful of times. The last one being months ago. As a result I was expecting an ass kicking. Luckily it was much like riding a bike. I was good to go once the music, the adrenaline and my need to get physical kicked in. Pun totally intended. Plus I get very competitive at the gym. Some of those ladies are much older than me and if they can do it so can I!  Others I don’t worry about. I know I could take them if we ended up in a bar fight