This past Saturday I had the privilege of attending my first ever dance competiton in Hancock MD. The dance I was in was in the Novice category so we weren't judged on the same caliber as the dance teams. I was so scared and nervous about dancing in front of people, not to mention judges who were watching every move my foot made. It's enough to drain every bit of energy out of you.
On my drive down, I spent time asking God to take away all my fear and the butterflies in my stomach and that he would help me relax while I was dancing. I got there and found out that Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy was dance # 30 out of 38. I had about 2 hours to wait. I quite enjoyed the whole experience of having dance make-up done and learning tips for when I'm in front of people like facial expressions are important while dancing. Don't look like you're concentrating and make sure you smile! :D As the time got closer, I started to get nervous. I wasn't the only one, 4 of the girls had also never been in a competiton and a couple were spazzing out because they were so nervous. Then the moment came...the music started and we went on stage. My mind went blank for the first 10 seconds of the dance, the part I've known the longest! I was in a panic then I just kinda relaxed and went with the flow of everything. It went by so fast! When I got off stage, some of the other dancers kept complementing me of how good of a job I did and that dancers usually don't get their facial expressions down in the first year of dancing. I said Thanks, but I was sorta bewildered, because I don't remember doing anything on stage.
Today I was thinking about letting go and letting God work. Letting go of our agendas and our plans and letting Him use us in things that aren't sceduled in our day. I guess that's what I did on the dance stage. I just let it all go and let Him move me. That's something I need to do everyday.
Let go and Let God.
As my recital nears closer and closer I'm trying to remember that when I step on that stage, to give everything over to God and let him dance with me. Because the only reason I am as good as I am for only dancing 8 months is because of God!
Dance Class
Victoria Utermoehlen
Anticipation flows
Muscles tense
The door opens
I Lace up my shoes
Step step step
Dance floor
Shuffle step shuffle step
Thoughts begin to fade
Riff heel riff heel
Worries disappear
Toe drops heel drops
My ankles start to hurt
Warm ups
Diggle: seven seven three three four ball-change
Rhythm
More begins to fade
Faces, thoughts, memories
Cramp roll cramp roll
Anger, sorrow, failures cease to be important
Drawbacks, Rollbacks, Wings,
The room starts to blur
Paradiddle, paradiddle, para-ballchange, paradiddle
Sound. Rhythm. Music.
Flap-heel, flap-heel slap
Things start to make sense
Rhythms form in my mind
I step beyond the sound
Into the music
Triplet, turn, kick, kick
STOMP
……
….
Focus
