wow thats awesome for going back to it. it won't let me look at your pictures.

To view smileywoman's pictures at photobucket.com,
type in the read-only password "dancenet."
My pictures are under "dance"
and "dance effects."

Your story and pictures are beautiful and truly inspiring. Thanks so much for sharing!!! Dance on, Woman!

Rach

wow I saw your website, I think you are a clear example of someone that HAS to dance regardless of the circumstances. I think thats realy beautiful

Your pictures and story is brillant!!!

Well done, your story and pictures are fantastic!!!


Would love to do the same thing!!

I'm so happy that throughout your childhood struggles, you've made up for your loss in terms of not affording things financially, by now enjoying life as an adult and still finding the time to complete the hobbies you love.
Your definitely an inspiration for many dancers of all ages, and I encourage other's also to ignore age concerns. If you feel healthy enough to make a change and do the things you love then take the chance. We only live once and we should make every opportunity count.
I wish you all the best, and I hope life you treats you well.
With Love
Olivia Brown
x

HI! I love your post. Especially the ending about 'lack of support'. I'm 36 and continuing a dance career after 4 years off. It's been an uphill battle to gain strength back. Support is something I figured out was really important....but it doesn't actually exist in the format I was expecting. SO - you just tapped into something I needed to hear! THANKS!

That's lovely, I love stories like this, the pics are great too, keep going! x

Hey girl, loved what you had to say. You know me, always liking what the older dancers like to say.

You mention about being married only 3 years. Did I read that right? Did you get married again? Did you move? I have your old address and I do want to send you that thing I promised you. With all the snow we have been having, about 2 feet so far, maybe more and more coming this coming week, I have not been to the post office but if you have a new addy send it. When we get plowed out, I will go to the post office.

I wrote something too. Feel free to read mine.

your such an inspiration to me. After reading this i started to strech like mad because you really motivated me .Hope you always enjoy dance !
hannah

Thank you sooo much for this. I am a 36YO wife and mother to 3. I danced avidly from age 7 to about 19 and I can't tell you how much I miss it. I too had a father who told me "dancing was not going to pay the bills". Now, I have a job that pays the bills, but can't shake that "empty" feeling. Thank you for sharing and reminding me that its never too late and there is a community of people just like me out there...

Now if I can only find some nearby! LOL

This was written five years ago, so what you have read was how I re-started ballet but LOTS has happened since them.

I'm NOW 50 years old and I am dancing better than ever and in BETTER shape than I was 10 years ago.



Thank you for your comments, and I'm glad I inspire. You can follow my adventures at smileywoman.com or on my blog at EmbraceYourChild.com

i'm 36 and about 35 pounds more than i used to be when i did ballet-and pointe. do you have any problems with your knees or joints and if so how do you get over those injuries?

What an amazing story! Thank you so much for sharing it with the community, you're an inspiration!

wow, thats great. I wanted to carry on dancing until i was that age and similarly i did ballet too. I started young but lost interest which is a pain now i think of it but well done and good luck for whatever comes next!
PS: your pictures are awesome
xx

You are one of the most inspiring people on DDN.. Thank you

what an inspiration, good luck for the future.

Definitely inspirational

Yes, it's amazing to see how this art form is a language that becomes a part of your being. There have been times when I thought, "I should stop now, real life is calling. I should buckle down and leave dancing alone all together to become a fond memory." But it didn't go away. If I left, it rang me up and asked, "where you been?"