Live It

All over the globe fall dance classes are getting back into the groove. Why? I don't understand it. Dance is a living art and should be continually studied. But the countless kids that take the summer off can really be a bummer even for the most inspiring of dance teachers. This is a huge trend in small town America...school in session, study dance...school out, no dance. That's an 8-10 week break, flexibility and strength, out the door. But let me tell you something else that is going on in small and big town America, people by the droves are taking summer off from where they study the art of life and living...the church. Again, flexibility and strength, out the door. Life is a living art and should be continually studied.

I teach my students an analogy about barre work and center work. I tell them that what they learn at the barre, the tips and techniques, the hard work and repetition, the growth and development, are to be taken from the barre and applied to the work that they do in the center and across the floor. Just like when you train in your faith, the pastors, the teachers, the leadership trains you in the church and then when you go out of the church into real life (the center) you apply your training there! You live it for everyone to see.

A teacher loves it when a dancer can correct themselves. The teacher sees something out of line and they call for a correction and the dancer looks into the mirror and sees the need to change and does it quickly. That is the mark of maturity. Not perfection, but maturity. That thrills an instructor! Teachability. For a dancer, the mirror is the place of checks and balances. For the Christian it is the Bible, we look in it as we train and continually correct and change and live it for all to see.

A dance class could very easily be compared to church. You dress appropriately for the situation. You speak with and mingle with others that have come for the same purpose. The music begins and an euphoric feeling comes...this why I dance..., there's a lot of talking and educating and reminders of what is right and good and useful for you and your life. There is a lot of praying and then you're released to the center (real life) and you go out and live it. Yes?

I've always had questions concerning people that call themselves dancers. You know the ones that come to class only once a week or miss class when other things take higher priority. They love the idea of being a dancer but do not want to do what it takes to be one. They want to attend class just enough to stay somewhat connected but its plain to see that their absence is weakening their commitment. They want to stay on roll but are not advancing in their training.
I've heard someone say that the growth of atheism was due to the fact that many Christians acknowledged God with their lips and lived before the world as an unbeliever and people frankly, found that to be unbelievable. Train at the barre...live it in the center.