Time to Dance!

At the Great Wall

Our daughter Danielle loves to dance. She glides across the kitchen floor, boogies down the grocery store aisles, leaps across the gym floor. When she hears a song that she's danced to, she remembers the choreography step by step, even if she hasn't danced that particular piece in years. Our sweet girl says that dancing allows her mind to empty (which we think happens periodically anyway. She is sixteen after all).  She hears the music and moves. She has no teenage worries, boy problems, friendship squabbles when she's dancing. She simply goes to a place of peace and beauty.

Danielle dances with a beautiful group of people. Don't get me wrong, the girls all want the lead. They sometimes snap at each other or swear at their own mistakes. Mostly they are supportive and encouraging. The owners/teachers of the dance studio are a married couple who danced professionally for many years. They are incredible. They expect the best from their dancers, but don't demand perfection...be on time, follow dress code, respect your teacher, treat each other kindly, and do your very best. We love their balance between professionalism and fun. Danielle has benefited from their tutelage and friendship. She loves them.

After Danielle's last performance her back started hurting. She went to the chiropractor for six weeks and started to feel better. Then, a few weeks later, bending over to pick up a plate from the dishwasher, she went down to her knees. She had to crawl to the couch. She was in agony. Her chiropractor took xrays and sent her for an MRI. Danielle has a "bad" back. We've been told that many teen athletes are diagnosed with anterolisthesis, bulging discs and pars fractures. That it's not a big deal. Well, Danielle's physician referred her to a spine specialist to determine what we can do to help heal her back, to not worsen her condition, to determine if she should still dance. She has cried many tears. Dance is all she's ever wanted to do. Her dream is to teach differently abled students to dance. She is determined to do just that.

Danielle dances with Jade. They hold hands and Jade mirrors Danielle's movements. They laugh and sing and bounce around the house all day it seems. Jade wears braces on her legs and feet (AFOs medically speaking). I have talked with Danielle's dance teachers about Jade dancing at their school. They are very supportive of Jade joining their company. I have a few thoughts about it. While Jade has the personality, motivation and confidence to do anything she sets her heart to, some things will be hard for her. I wonder, would she rather dance with  kids who don't wear AFOs, who don't have certain restrictions?  Or would she prefer to dance with children who are similar to her? Who succeed in different ways? I want her to feel like she fits in, like she adds to the company of dancers. That she's not standing out.  I want her to feel like she belongs and isn't all that different from others. But, I also want her to know that she isn't limited by her feet. That dance is about grace and beauty and art. That she is her own person. That she adds beauty to the dance because she is unique, because she is Jade. Her dancing won't be perfect pointed toes and flexible legs. She will look different from the other dancers because of her braces. She will join in for the pure pleasure of dancing.  She will most definitely stand out...in the most beautiful of ways. I will watch her dancing with pride, because it is hard for her, because she is happy, because she can.