May 1, 2019 / photography
Torrington, Wyoming Dance Photography: How Far They'll Go
“I can lead with pride, I can make us strong
I’ll be satisfied if I play along
But the voice inside sings a different song
What is wrong with me?”
All weekend long, I had the lyrics of Disney’s “How Far I’ll Go” from Moana stuck in my head. It was one of the songs featured in the 2019 28th Avenue Dance Recital and the tune and its message got stuck in my head.
I was attending my first spring recital partly to shoot pictures for a client and partly just because I wanted to go watch.
I was not disappointed.
Stephanie and her crew put on a fantastic performance. From teeny ballerinas waving their star wands to the seriously mad skills of the older hip hop dancers and their lead popper, it was so much fun!
Dance was not my thing growing up. Oh, I dabbled in clogging a little bit in high school as part of my riding drill team. But I wanted to be on a horse or working with my pigs. Dancing was for frilly city girls.
But now away from the noise of being a kid, I see it differently. I can now see dance of any kind promotes exercise, confidence and poise. To stand on that big stage under bright lights and nail not one, but two or three different routines with several hundred sets of eyes watching? That takes courage.
It was also easy to see the friendship these dancers have with one another. My clients gave me a dance preview earlier in the week and even though just one sister was in a routine, her fellow dancers stepped in and danced with her. They laughed an joked. Encouraged each other. Laughed some more.
In the movie, Moana loves her island home but feels called to the sea. She’s looking for the place where she feels like she belongs.
But isn’t that all of us? Craving belonging?
My belonging place as a kid was the barn. There wasn’t a day so bad that some time in a stall with my arms wrapped around a chestnut mare couldn’t fix. My heart soared as I took jumps or gave my mare her head on the wide open rangeland on a muggy summer night.
For these dancers, I suspect their belonging place is the studio. Hand on the bar, facing the mirror, that routine is what anchors them. Centers them. Gives them purpose and joy.
So congratulations Rory, Cassidy and Bailey on some amazing performances. The skill and confidence you rocked on stage gave me goosebumps. I was a proud dance mom by proxy on Friday night for you and all the other dancers.
Maybe you will be dancers for life…maybe not. But I hope you enjoy this moment and the joy dancing brings you right now. It will continue to bring you dividends for years to come. And after all, if the wind in your sail cooperates, there’s no telling how far you’ll go.
Teresa
