I had a dance class tonight. I'm not liking the song to the dance I am in but it's a class and I love to dance. The problem? My school is closing up and I'm in menopause, so I am emotional a lot. I seem to be close to tears a lot or some tears.

I hate change and have been a part of this family since 1974. My teachers teacher was my teacher for 5 years and then I got my teacher. When my teacher had to retire due to blood clots in her legs, her daughter took over and she is now my teacher. Because she is a single mom w/a 14 year old son, another job because she doesn't make much money from teaching dance, going to college for sign language, and hardly ever seeing her son, she is closing her studio. Don't get me started about the horrible landlord she has.

My teacher still wants to teach but not own a studio anymore. She is in talks w/another teacher who used to take from her mom who now owns a studio so she can teach me and one other student. That would be so cool!

I feel like I am loosing my family! I can't believe when we have our recital I won't be saying "See you next year" this year. I haven't told anybody in my family. They think it's like any other year. I hate that this is happening. Can you tell how much I love change? LOL We had fun at tonight's class but when I was going home I was getting teary eyed.

Have any of you experienced this? Have you felt like me and how have you dealt w/it? I know most people think I am to old to still be dancing (57) and I shouldn't really care one way or another but I can't feel that way. I love dance to much and it's one of the few fun things that I do. I also love my teacher, her mom who was my teacher and who I went to high school w/and the students that I know in my school. I can't imagine how I am going to be after the recital. I'm going to be a mess!

Thanks for listening. Just had to vent.

Of course you aren't too old to dance. I happen to believe menopause is a much better time to get intense again, because obviously we don't have to deal with cramps, excessive bleeding, or lactation issues while we're breastfeeding babies. Anyone who has ever attempted to leap and jump while nursing, knows what I'm talking about.

After so many years, of course change is going to be hard. But it may also be an opportunity to try new things. A few years ago I started going into New York every so often to take class with a tap teacher I just loved. This summer, I'm going to go in and take a ton of level 1 and 2 jazz classes at Broadway Dance Center just to clear my own mind and revitalize the way I teach my own classes, hopefully, with some hints from a different teacher. It's easy to get stale and I'm always glad when I treat myself to new experiences.

Where do you live? Is there a similar opportunity for you for open classes? It's hard to get involved with another studio after loving the one you're at for so long, so maybe a more "a la carte" approach might help you with the transition.

A final thought...perhaps you and some of the other students could rent studio time from an under utilized studio (like mine)and form a "workshop group" similar to a writers workshop or an actor's workshop. It's more of a co-op structure.

I wish you the very best. Change is hard.

Keep On Dancing*

I live in a small city. Let me tell you what is available in our town. We have one huge school that mainly teaches ballet. It's where my niece used to go for years until the Boston Ballet wanted her. They don't have a recital, they have performances that you have to audition for. They are expensive and they don't teach Jazz. I love to perform and wouldn't be guaranteed I would perform if they did teach Jazz. My niece also told me that the teachers aren't as good or as dedicated as they used to be. Some of them show up a half hour late to class! Another school in our town has teacher who yells at her students if they don't get a first place trophy at competition. She yells at her students in front of their whole class when they make a mistake. No one is allowed to keep their trophies from a competition. Her students threatened to beat up our students because we did better than they did and they almost got kicked out of that competition. Everyone loves this teacher. Why? Why would I want to take from her? The few other ones we have are just okay but nothing great. Oh yeah, another teacher who used to teach for my teachers mom but left one year and didn't tell us why she left, would make me audition to be a solo dancer and pay big bucks. Nope, won't go to her either. I don't want to go out of town because of transportation problems and how much gas costs.

You want to know what I loved about my teacher besides the fact that we are like family because I used to change her diapers when she was younger? She gave me a break on my classes because she know what I could afford. I know doing solos I could pick my own songs but some teachers might not like the songs I pick. I like songs from the 60's. She was accommodating of my work schedule for days when I could take class. A bunch of us went to see Tap Dogs and got to meet some of the performers. We went to some great competitions together. We did a lot of family things together. This year we had a sleepover and they gave me a surprise party for my birthday that fell on that day. How many studios do you know that would do that? How many people say they can't find adult classes and places that will have adults in a recital? That's what I mean.

One of her students that I really like is going to college and I forget what she's going for. She is a really good dancer and says she would like to buy the studio in a few years and have my teacher back as a teacher under her, which my teacher would love. I'd go to her if she did that.

Thanks for all that you said. I know how hard it's going to be. I hope I can go to this other school that may take my teacher. They are going to help out at our recital. we shall see what happens there. Change is so hard. Do you know my teacher knew how upset I would be and didn't want to tell me, she wanted her mom to tell me? I'm also trusting in God to know what's right since he's in charge.

That is a tough deal to be sure. Work committments and family etc have forced me to curtail my ballet and it stinks but I have to do what is best for all. You just learn to adjust and soon it won't seem too bad. Hang in there. Tomorrow will be a better day.

I am trying to hang in there. It's hard but I know God has plans for all of us and this must be part of his plan. If I did a lot of fun things in my life and I didn't luv dance as much as I do, I'd say okay, no biggie. However, I don't have much of a life and dance is the one fun thing that I do that I luv. I'm sure things will be okay. I know they will be.

Tonight was my dress rehearsal and when I went to hug my teacher, she said "Don't cry!" and I said "I'll try not to." I didn't and things went okay. Tomorrow is the recital. I can't wait!