I must be a dance teacher. Yup, you would be correct! I am just one of the hundreds upon thousands of dance teachers out here in the trenches day after day. We are doing God’s work. Does that sound a bit lofty….a touch arrogant? Perhaps. However, I firmly believe that dance, among many other beautiful art forms, is a catalyst for changing lives. Dance has the power to transform the young body and spirit into an individual of substance. There are endless life lessons in the course of a simple ballet class. Turn that into years of training, and dance can build a structure and foundation to support limitless possibilities in an unknown future. I was born into dance. But at some point, it became a choice. It became a decision, a serious commitment. It became a dream, a goal, and led to achievement. I have a lot to say. And I am going to say it here. It won’t all be directly about dance, but there is always a connection. Please indulge me as I begin this new avenue of communication, and very interesting New Years Resolution! (I know, it’s August…..oh well!)
When you grow up living in an actual dance studio, you would think you were destined to become an actual dancer. Not necessarily true. Certainly not when you’re gawky, awkward, pimply, and crooked from scoliosis. Certainly not, when at age 12 you announce to the world at large that you are going to be a professional dancer, and you can’t help but notice the raised, questioning eyebrows. However, I had spirit. I had desire. When I hit the stage, no amount of adolescent angst could keep the smile off my face. Those brief moments in time held infinite joy. As insecure as I was, riddled with more self-loathing than I could ever write about, there must have been a core of strength deep down in my little body and soul that wouldn’t let me quit. I digress….let’s fill in a little background for you.
My parents opened up their dance studio 65 years ago. They met at sixteen years of age in ballet class. How many people can say that?!! The family folklore goes, my dad saw my mom across the room and whispered to a buddy, “I’m going to go over there and stand next to El. Let me know if she’s taller than me”!! Well, I guess I am living proof that she was NOT!! After high school, they moved to NYC to pursue their performing dreams…had an agent and an act….but the Korean War interrupted those plans. By the time my dad was out of his four year stint in the army, they were married, then shortly after, yours truly was on the way, and my dad had enrolled in college. He never imagined he would see our studio celebrating 65 years. He just wanted a way to make a living. All those years, my parents worked their tails off. By day, my dad was an elementary school teacher, for thirty plus years, while by night , a dance teacher. My mom was the stay-at-home mom, and also dance teacher by night. Together they raised five kids, and inspired many, many more in their small town studio. It was a loud, crazy, active Italian family upbringing and completely normal….except we lived in a dance studio! The flashes of memories I have of all those years is the stuff TV sitcoms are made of!!
We lived in the front and top part of our house and the studio was in the rear of the building. Every single evening, all activity stopped, and we sat down as a family for dinner. It was only a half hour, but it was quality time that was essential. My dad was strict but fair, had expectations of our behavior, our grades, etc… that was on one side of the door. On the other side of the door was another whole world in which he was my dance teacher (tap and jazz), and my mom was my ballet teacher. Again, there was a strict discipline, always fair, but high expectations for classroom behavior, commitment, and work ethic. Imagine the dinner table, and conversations regarding grades, etc… very difficult to have a dispute with your parents then get up and go in the studio and take a dance class from them!! When you’re the teacher’s daughter, you innately understand your place, you must be a role model for others, you help set a tone for professionalism before you are even cognizant that’s what you are doing. Thank God, I took to the whole dance scene immediately. Never gave them an ounce of trouble, never squawked about wanting to quit. However, I do recollect endless nights of personal frustration and tears over my lack of turnout or flexibility, or my swayback and scoliosis. I remember nights I wanted to deeply apologize to these wonderful dance teachers that their daughter was an utter disappointment. My dad was an amazing tapper and teacher. He stayed so current with his material, and it was due to his enthusiasm and research that brought jazz into our curriculum (bless you Luigi and Gus Giordano…all you dancers out there get it!!) My mom provided me with a strong ballet background that has sustained me my entire adult dance life. She consistently trained herself….pregnant or not….going to class, sometimes the only adult dancing with teens. She was a radiant performer. My parents may have left the professional NYC world at a young age, but they were consummate professionals, and I was so fortunate to have received their guidance. It was the foundation that supported me throughout my entire career.
As I continue this new journey of blogging, I am excited to share my stories. More often than not, my tales will have a message of what-not-to do. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Looking back, these experiences have informed me and shaped me, and definitely helped me become a better teacher. I have now come full circle and I am the Artistic Director and co-owner with my sister (a veteran of Broadway) of my parents’ studio. This year I celebrated 25 years. The longest job I’ve ever had, and without a doubt, the most rewarding. Everyone knows the times we are living in are far more difficult for young people to navigate. Compared to when I grew up, there are so many changes. The internet is hugely obvious. Quick answers, quick solutions for anything and everything. Well, everything except dance. Sure this art form has grown to olympic size proportions…dance is everywhere, on television, in film, You tube, many dance companies, competitions, and on and on. However, one factor remains…..You Cannot Google a Triple Pirouette. Nothing in dance is achieved without the hard, tough, physical work it requires. This sums up the life of a dance teacher in our present day. If the progress doesn’t come quick enough, students express frustration. As a teacher, it presents endless challenges. We’ve often heard the expression “ballet is not for sissies”….well, I’d like to add “being a dance teacher is not for sissies”!!
As I said, I have a lot to say. Perhaps too many run on sentences, but keep reading, it does eventually make a point. Thanks for checking out my first blog ever! To be continued………
You Cannot Google a Triple Pirouette 