One final thought on becoming a dancer:

IF YOU’RE NOT ONE YET, IT’S NEVER TOO LATE.

These folks know how to have a good time, and they span a wide range of dance experience.  Want to join them?  Check out the summer and fall Footsteps School of Dance class schedules and join the fun!  Hmmm, maybe I should take my own wise advice….

Invigorate my soul so I can praise You well!

Psalm 119:175 MESSAGE

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

The intermediate dance level is a sweet place to be.  By now these students have been dancing together for several years and they’ve become good friends.  They enjoy taking a few minutes at the beginning of class to share their week’s highs and lows before hitting the dance floor.

They not only accept stretching exercises as part of the routine, they are proud of the results of all that hard work.

Then it’s on to the business of developing jazzy looseness …

… and ballet-y precision.

Such elegance.  Such control.  Such strength.

I love seeing next-step-up dancers being encouraged to help train younger students.  It shows that growth does indeed happen with practice, while teaching assistants get the chance to demonstrate what they’ve already mastered.

These two tappers are busily developing their skills to pass along to some of the youngest dancers …

… and they’re having a pretty good time together along the way!

At this level, dancers also have the opportunity to branch out beyond ballet, tap and jazz. 

This hip-hop class requires and inspires constant high energy …

… matched only by the antics of the musical theatre group.

If these three weren’t characters before beginning this class, their teacher is certainly molding them into her image!

Doesn’t this look like fun?  If someone in your household thinks so, it’s not too late to contact Footsteps School of Dance and register for summer and/or fall classes! 

I set Your instructions to music and sing them as I walk this pilgrim way.

I meditate on Your name all night, God, treasuring Your revelation, O God.

Psalm 119:54-55 MESSAGE

Another group of Footsteps dancers spreading their wings are those in A Chance to Dance classes.  This is our area’s only program uniquely designed for special needs dance students, and they have made great strides in just two years’ time.

In addition to wonderful teachers, Buddies play an important role.  Whether they are simply dancing alongside and modeling one-on-one …

… or taking a personal, hands-on approach, Buddies and dancers quickly form close friendships.

Classtime is a highlight of the week for everyone involved …

… and dancers don’t stop dancing until they’re out of the door!

I photographed many of these students last year and am amazed by how much they’ve grown and learned since then.

Each one knows she is safe and loved here, and this security shows in their eagerness to learn new terms, new steps, and new routines.

Clearly, the joy of dancing knows no boundaries.  The love of tippity-tappity shoes and all things sparkly uplifts all souls.

Given a chance, all CAN dance.

Thanks, Buddies, for helping to make this program possible.  Thanks, dancers, for making it so much fun!

Every word You give me is a miracle word – how could I help but obey?

Break open Your words, let the light shine out, let ordinary people see the meaning.

Psalm 119:129-130 MESSAGE

At the tender ages of 4, 5 and 6, Footsteps dancers begin to train their bodies to move into classic ballet positions.  They learn basic warm-up steps, hop in place, and wait their turn to dance across the floor – some with a little more attitude than others.

With a little preparation of their slipper soles and some last-minute individual instruction, they’re ready to leap into action.

Then it’s time to TAP!  Oh, the thrill of lacing up tap shoes in these early days.  Shoes that make noise!  Shoes that skitter across the dance floor!  Shoes with lots and lots of room for stickers!

So much stretching and trying new things and energetic dancing happens in this room week after week.

So much joy is being set free in the steps these little feet are taking.

I run in the path of Your commands,

for You have set my heart free.

Psalm 119:32