Instead, I am taking a bit of liberty with the prompt and writing an open letter to dance, which has been a part of my daughter’s life for a very long time.
Dear Dance,
After I excitedly announced to 3-year-old Tenley that I had signed her up for Junior Gym at preschool, she announced that she had to take ballet, which was a new option at the school. There was no arguing. She was going to take ballet.
Dance, Tenley’s love has roots as ancient as a dinosaur.
Thanks to you, Tenley is as likely to be listening to “Carnival of the Animals” by Camille Saint-Saëns on her iPod as she is to “Shake That” by LMFAO.
You have given her role models.
And friends galore.
And the thrill of doing what you love (and moving past animal costumes).
Admittedly, I still struggle with your expense and any requirement that involves altering costumes. But we will keep working it out.
In her dance program ad this year, I used the quote “Dancing faces you towards Heaven, whichever direction you turn,” by Sweetpea Tyler. Thank you, dance, for pointing Tenley towards Heaven. May she never lose sight of you.
Love,
A grateful mom.
