I was dancing about 2 weeks ago when we started talking about dance. Gee, what a funny thing to talk about in dance class! LOL I am dancing to an amazing song (It's Love by The Rascals) and I just love to dance. I am so excited everytime I go to class. In Private class I only get half an hour and I wish I had more than 1/2 hour to dance. I asked about competition and she said we would do it this year. She told me no one wanted to do competition last year, which freaked me out, and then she got really sick and we couldn't go. I said I wanted to go and she said I was the only one. Then I started saying how much I love dance and her teaching and my song. I told her I wish I could dance for an hour or 2 instead of 1/2 hour but that's what you get when you take private. At 56 I don't expect to be a pro by any means but just to be able to go once a week makes me so happy. To be able to almost do a full split at 56 is amazing because at 16 and 26 I couldn't even come close.

Then she told me that she wishes that more of her students were like me. I asked her what she meant. I just assume that if you take dance, you like to dance. She said a lot of girls take dance because their mom's couldn't so the daughters are living through them. Some have so many different kinds of things they do after school that dance takes a back seat. Like Cheer or Band is more important and they skip dance for that. She says she's glad she has these students but none of them are like me. She told me that if I ever had to give up dance for any reason, she would close up her studio. I asked her if she was serious and she said yes.

Wow, is that not a totally nice thing to say? I almost started to cry! I just had to share that w/all of you. I totally appreciate my teacher all that much more since she said that. And to think, I used to change her diapers! LOL Seriously! Her mom used to be my teacher and I went to high school w/her mom. Then her mom got blood clots in her legs and couldn't teach anymore so her daughter, who I babysat for when she was much younger (she's 30 now I think) is now my teacher.

That is such wonderful, positive, feedback from your teacher - go you!!!

I find it's a complete joy to be an adult dancer and being there because you want to, rather than because you're made to. If I could, I would take six hours a week but unfortunately children and work get in the way of that (not to mention the fact that it would probably stretch the friendship with my husband if I left him alone with the kids in the evenings so often!)

I wish I was supple enough, fit enough and young enough to be able to do it as a full time job but, alas, there absolutely no way I could keep up nowdays at 42 years old and I'm realistic enough to recognise that.

Keep up the great work and enjoy it for as long as you are physically able to!

Cheers
Di

I'm not married and think you should be married to have kids so I don't have those either. I don't do a lot at night and my class is at 7 p.m.

It was amazing what she said about me. Even though I have been dancing since 1974, I don't feel like I am competent enough to actually open up a studio. I have always taken Jazz, and took 6 years of Tap until my class broke up.

My dance teachers mom hates me because as I have gotten older, I have gotten more limber. I am more limber at 56 then I was in my teens, 20's, 30's and even some of my 40's. Who would of thunk it? LOL My sister says it's because I've been dancing for so long by both dance teachers say you don't get more linber as you get older, you get less limber. Go figure. Oh yeah, and the first time I played Dance Revolution on a Wii at my dance teachers house, I beat a 20 something guy 3 times! When I told him how old I was and by the way he didn't believe me, he was really upset but high fived me anyway. How cool is that? I am getting a Wii so I can practice more and get in some exercise when I am not at dance. We also get something new on our cable system called Music Choice. It's a whole munch of music channels that play certain types of music like 80's, uncensored rap (which I hate) and oldies. I put them on so I can dance in my living room. The other day I danced for almost an hour and worked up quite a sweat. I didn't need to wash my shirt until I danced and sweat in it!

Thanks for what you said. It was nice to hear. I plan to dance until I can dance no more and then I will dance for The Lord in Heaven. I hope it's not for many years to come.

Hello, I'm also an older solo jazz dancer, and I mostly dance in rock clubs now. I started this improv jazz about five years ago, and I always get compliments. I'm the only jazz dancer, but most kinds of dance are acceptable at rock clubs now. I'm having so much fun! Let me know if you have any questions about trying it. My dancing has actually improved a lot now that I'm out there "performing" for however long I want. Wishing the same for you, Diane

It was cool to hear what you do but you have to explain it to me more. Do you mean you go to clubs and just dance? Do they hire you to dance? Tell me more. I'm not really into clubs because I don't drink and I 'm not crazy about the club scene being a Christian. I dance to all kinds of music, Christian included, but I'm not crazy about what goes on in the club scene. I'd love to hear more though.

Hi again: Delighted to hear from you. I just go and dance at the rock club, like everyone else. Many of the dancers haven't been exposed to jazz before, and they like it, and spend a lot of time watching me. Many ask me what my training is, and if I teach. I don't drink, so I stay away from the bar side, but it's never a problem, anyway. The club I go to is well run, and the staff is very nice. My sort of mission is to encourage longtime dancers to perform outside of class because you cannot believe how much joy it's brought me. Please don't hesitate to ask me any and all questions. Hoping to encourage you, Diane

Hey, check out what I wrote on Success Stories. It took me a long time to write and if I do say so myself, and I do, it is very well written. Check it out!

Gail, I wish you were at my studio! A student like yourself would be a pure joy. I've always wanted to start teaching adults, but I'm so busy with the kids' classes & running the business that I have no time or energy left over for anything additional. Wish I could totally work with adults. Would love to see a video of you dancing. Keep up the good work and I hope you NEVER STOP dancing!

Sounds like you have a good connection with your dance teacher.

I am the same with my dance teacher however there is only a 5 year age difference. My dance teacher is one of my best friends not only do we dance together but also go out together socially. I love being at my dance school as its like one big family,we all get on great and this proves in the way we dance together.

In the advanced group our ages range from 15 to 25 and we are all great friends, we dance well together and spend lots of time together. We recently went to IDTA Nationanwide Medalist of the year in blackpool 2010 and out team won. This proves that we have a great connection as a group not only with each other but also our dance teacher.

I respect that you are a mature dancer and i hope to be still dancing when im 56 as dance is my life and also my dance teachers so hopefully we will both continue until we have to physically stop!

I guess I have that connection because I've known her since she was little. She's in her 30's now. Early 30's I think. I don't remember her exact age. Her mom & I went to high school together but we didn't know each other in high school, we became friends in class and found out we went to high school together.

It's cool that you also get along so well w/your teacher. Most of our kids get along w/my teacher but there are a few who have things to say that aren't so nice. I swear, some people have no manners today and don't know how to speak w/respect to a teacher. I have never been that way to any teacher, older than me or younger. I have respect for a teacher.

Congrats on Blackpool. I hope we are able to do a competition this year. We have had a lot of times when we didn't have dance because of all the snow this year so I don't know what will happen. Nobody's dance is even close to being done.

I'm glad you love to dance as much as I do. Most adults don't dance because that is for kids. It's nice to meet another fellow adult dancer.

What a Fantastic compliment. I'm an adult Irish Dancer. I too love dancing- wish I was as limber as you! Congrats on your accomplishments and keep dancing!

I plan on it. However, my dance teacher who I love, is closing up shop as of the end of our dance year which will be June! She is a single mom who says she doesn't spend enough time w/her son, works a second job and is going to school to learn sign language. Now I have to find another teacher! I'm not looking forward to that. If her mom didn't get blood clots in her legs I'd still be dancing w/her. I hope I can find a school that treats me as well as my 2 teachers did. That's all I ask for.

that is so great! I am happy for you!

At the same time, I think it's really depressing for your teacher that she only has one good student. I wish more girls and boys would stand up to their parents and tell them what they want and what they don't want.
As you see in your story nobody gets happy with such a situation!

I have to say, when you go to a recital, you can tell the ones who are up there on stage who really, really love to dance. Then there are the ones who are there because mommy couldn't get lessons or they are living vicariously through their kids. Last but not least are the ones who take dance, cheerleading, soccer, karate, etc. so they can be a well rounded child. Dance is usually last on their list. We had one teenager who was pretty and a good dancer. She loved to dance but hated being in the recital (you don't have to be) and dancing in front of people. Why would you take dance if no one can ever see you dance? For the past 2 years no one but me has wanted to do competition.

In the 60's, I loved watching shows like Hullabaloo and Shindig, shows that had dancers on them. I loved beach party movies. I wanted to be like them. That's why I take Jazz and do a lot of 60's music. It's what I love and it's what most competitions and teachers and recitals won't see. When I get on stage, I have the biggest smile on my face and I am dancing for all I am worth. The audience knows it or at least I think they know it. Sometimes I am not to sure. I do know I have gotten 2 standing O's so they must like what I do. I love it!

Thank you for what you said about me. I hope that I can continue w/a new teacher and be the best dancer my new teacher has ever had!

Keep dancing, SoloJazz! It's wonderful that you have such a fantastic teacher I'm an older dancer as well. Actually, I'm just starting a new jazz dance company for adults only (30 years old and above) because dance companies tend to think that a dancer's life ends at 25...how ridiculous! It's great that you have that kind of support where you train!

I had an amazing teacher. I hope whatever new teacher I have is just as amazing. My dance teachers mom, who used to be my teacher, said to me and my mom at my recital on Fri, how she hates me because I am much more limber than I was in my 20's. I couldn't even do even part of a split then. Fri, night I was thisclose to a full split! She says that's not supposed to happen. She said my dance was amazing! I hope I can keep up my dance.

Yah! Technically, it's not supposed to happen. As we get older, our stretch is supposed to go to pots. But I know exactly how you feel. My stretch is much better now than it was in my twenties. Isn't it amazing? Enjoy the crap out of it lol.

Thanks for what you said. My sister, who took a dance class for a year or 2 in the 70's said that if you keep doing something all the time, every year, you would get more limber. She didn't believe what I told her. However, as you and I know, that isn't true. Ask my mom. She had perfect knees until she got into her early 70's I guess. She's 83 and her knees are horrible! Not that she was ever a dancer but as you get older, things tend not to work as well as they used to. I know I'm 57 and that's not so old, at least to me, but I know some people my age who can't walk very well and are overweight. That would be a friend of mine from high school. My dance teachers mom, who used to be my teacher, has blood clots in her legs and now has fibromyalgia. I stayed back in 4th grade so I am older than anyone in my high school class, but my dance teachers mom & I graduated high school together. I know you get what I am saying.

Take advantage of what I have? Heck yeah! LOL

Actually, I stopped dancing for a long time and my body began to break down. I started to feel like an old Barbie doll lol. I was afraid to begin again...especially the stretching...because it had been so long. But when I finally got around to stretching again, it was like I was possessed LOL!! My legs became more limber than they used to be, to my great amazement. I was like 0_0 when I saw that my stretch, at 50 was far better than my stretch at 19...but I'm not complaining

Good for you. I hope I can stay this limber when I am 90!

That is so touching! I sometimes worry if I would be one of those moms who put their children into dance only to have them dread it. Oh, I hope not.

I know we have mom's in our studio who put their kids in because they couldn't take when they were little or their mom's made them quit for whatever reason. You can see they really don't want to be there. I think dance is very good for children but if they don't like it or don't want to do it, don't force them. They will always remember that you said they had to. I wanted to take class when I was a child but my parents couldn't afford it. I am glad that I was able to take when I was older and kept it up because I love to dance so much! If I had to give it up because of injury or something else, I'd be so upset!

good for you! sounds a great instructor...

She was and I am going to be sad not to be taught from her anymore. I am going to be taking from another teacher who took class from my teachers mom & she says she is honored that they recommended her to teach me. Wow! Here's hoping for a really good, new, dance year!