Finishing touches

Footsteps School of Dance has a group of students who have progressed to the senior level, and they are a bunch of hard-working, dedicated young ladies.  On Monday evening they help with younger classes and then stay for tap.

On Tuesday night they throw themselves into jazz, and when I say “throw themselves into” I mean something more along the lines of “hurl themselves around the floor with marvelous abandon.”

Their teachers set the pace by dancing with as much energy as they ask from their students …

… and they establish the disciplined precision necessary for growth and expression.

There’s more on Tuesday but we’ll come back to that.  First let’s take a look at Thursday, the girls’ evening for technique, leaps and turns.

After an hour of all-out effort …

… everyone is finally too worn out to do much more than gasp for air.

That’s because years of dance classes have taught them to give each rehearsal hour everything they’ve got.  On Tuesday they had also progressed in ballet, beginning as always at the barre …

… moving into their beautifully expressive recital piece …

… polishing their pirouettes …

… and seemingly floating in mid-air.

Then. 

THEN. 

Then they did what every young dancer dreams of.  They carefully stretched their arches and toes, and slipped on their toe shoes.

This group is still transitioning into pointe, but they are making steady progress.

Each dancer is working to find exactly the right balance point as she builds up the strength in her delicate yet powerful feet.

Their determination is fierce and palpable.

How are dancers created? 

Inspirational teaching, careful training, obedient perseverance, sweaty repetition, and joyful determination.

Sounds like steps that apply nicely to most things in life.  Thanks for giving us such a clear picture of beauty and grace in action, Footsteps dancers!

You’re blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God.

You’re blessed when you follow His directions, doing your best to find Him.

That’s right – you don’t go off on your own; you walk straight along the road He set.

You, God, prescribed the right way to live; now You expect us to live it.

Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping to the course You set.

Psalm 119:1-5 MESSAGE