A friend asked me: “Why do you spend so much time and money running around for your daughter to dance?”
Well, I have a confession to make; I don’t pay for my daughter’s dance lessons. Or her pointe shoes, stockings leotards or hundreds of costumes. I pay for:
- The moments when my girl becomes so tired she feels like quitting, but doesn’t.
- I pay for the opportunity that my girl can have and will have to make life-long friendships.
- I pay for the chance that she may have amazing instructors that teach her that dance is not just about movement, but about life.
- I pay for my child to learn to be disciplined.
- I pay for my girl to learn to take care of her body
- I pay for my daughter to learn to work with others and be a proud, supportive, kind and respectful team member.
- I pay for my child to learn to deal with disappointment, when she doesn’t get the score she hoped for, or fell during a move she has practised a thousand times, but still gets up and is determined to do her best next time.
- I pay for her to learn to make and accomplish goals.
- I pay for my daughter to learn that it can take hours and hours and hours of hard work and practise to create a champion, and that success does not happen overnight.
- I pay so that my daughter can be in the studio instead of in front of a screen.
I could go on, but in short I don’t pay for dance, I pay for the opportunities that dance provides my child to develop, attributes that will serve her well through her life and gives her the opportunity to bless the lives of others. From what I’ve seen for many, many years. I think it is a great investment.
