Post by Najmes on Apr 29, 2004 4:36:10 GMT -5
TEXT
Here's an article send to me by Suhaila Salimpour, my dance mentor. I think it sums up how getting involved in dancing can have a profound effect on your life & open you up to a whole new world of possibilities. As a dance teacher, this is what I am always striving to inspire in my students. I only hope that I can be half as sucessful as Suhaila!
Yesterday a woman whom I haven’t seen in class for a very long time
came back to class. I was leaving the studio to pick up my daughter and I
saw her back at the desk. As I got closer to the desk I was so happy
to see her turn around and smile. I gave her a big hug and told her how
happy I was to see her. “We have missed you” I said with my arms still
around her. I didn’t want to ask were she had been since her eyes
began to well up with water. She then told me that she had been waiting
so long to come back and that the thought of class and being able to
dance again were the only thing that was keeping her going. My eyebrows
lifted as I asked if she was okay, “Yeah…. I’m going to be okay, but I
might break out into laughter or tears at anytime”. No problem I said,
I knew that as long as she was in her studio she would feel loved and
safe. She then briefly told me of the divorce, change in career, and
health issues she has had and that dreaming of dance had kept her
positive and with a chin up.
We will call her “Sally” for this editorial (out of respect for her
privacy). Sally came into my studio over one year ago. Hiding in the
back of the studio, wearing loose clothing to cover her body, and trying
not be noticed. Sally is an older woman with three kids and the only
time she would do anything for herself was when she came to my classes.
She had never danced before in her life and it had always been her
dream. I noticed her only because she worked hard and didn’t choose the
easy way out. Usually those are the students that stay in my school and
are attracted to my format.
After weeks of her being in class I asked her why she always hid her
body. I always like to see my students so I can help them with posture
and with her clothing it made it very difficult. When I told her this
she looked at me with amazement and said, “you don’t want to see me”. I
grabbed her by the shoulders and said “Oh yes I do, now the next time I
see you in dance class I want to see you in dance clothes”. I was
worried I would never see her again, but she came back…. This time with
jazz pants and a long sleeve t-shirt. Now this was fine for awhile until
the hot weather set in. Around this time I realized that she was taking
two classes per week and still had not become a member of the school to
receive the discounted rates. Sally was struggling with my format, but
enjoying the challenge. She was even attending the dance movement
classes and making sure to have well rounded training (which is what I
preach in my school…anyway). Her body was getting stronger and she was
loosing weight and feeling good about herself again which she confessed
that she hadn’t felt about her body since before having kids.
I approached her about becoming a member of the school and she became
totally withdrawn. Sally explained to me that if she became a member
that she would receive the free tank top that we give out and that she
just couldn’t take the pressure of having to wear it and show her arms.
She felt over weight and embarrassed of her body and arms. I flung a
tank top at her and told her that she didn’t have to join the school,
but I wanted her in a tank top. I usually wouldn’t be so pushy, but I
felt that she wanted to come out of her shell and maybe needed a push.
She looked at me and asked if it was okay to show her arms. I held her
face and told her that she was beautiful and that she needed to show
her arms so she can become free from her own mind. The next class she
came with tank top and all…..a big smile….. Sally looked beautiful. At
each class after that I saw Sally in a new tank top and tight cloths
showing off her secure and stronger body. She was also starting to wear
bright colors too. I would make a point to notice her and how hard and
how far she had come.
It is women like Sally that give me the most joy of teaching. I would
always thank her for choosing me and the studio to spend her time, that
isn’t with her family. I know how hard it is to juggle a family and I
let my other mothers in class know how I appreciate their effort in
coming to class. To find time for yourself and then take the time is
really hard once you become a parent. Something happens and your brain
tells you that should feel guilty to take time out for yourself. It is a
daily battle to maintain a personal sense of self.
When asked about why people take my classes, I always tell people that
they walk through my studio door thinking that they want to take a
belly dance class, but really they want to change their life. I was so
happy to see Sally yesterday. I’m not sure who feels more of a sense of
healing, Sally or me. I think I need her just as much as she needs me.
That is what my format is all about, to strive and not let your mind
tell you that you can’t do anything. Push through the limits and don’t
just settle for easy. You are worth it and deserve the truth. My
format is for every age, body type, and level…. You just have to want to
improve…. That is the hard part.
So for all the Sally’s out there…. I thank you for giving me your day,
hour, and heart to heal through the dance. It is through your growth
that I keep going in my dream to create a studio that is a community and
not just a pretty face.
Here's an article send to me by Suhaila Salimpour, my dance mentor. I think it sums up how getting involved in dancing can have a profound effect on your life & open you up to a whole new world of possibilities. As a dance teacher, this is what I am always striving to inspire in my students. I only hope that I can be half as sucessful as Suhaila!
Yesterday a woman whom I haven’t seen in class for a very long time
came back to class. I was leaving the studio to pick up my daughter and I
saw her back at the desk. As I got closer to the desk I was so happy
to see her turn around and smile. I gave her a big hug and told her how
happy I was to see her. “We have missed you” I said with my arms still
around her. I didn’t want to ask were she had been since her eyes
began to well up with water. She then told me that she had been waiting
so long to come back and that the thought of class and being able to
dance again were the only thing that was keeping her going. My eyebrows
lifted as I asked if she was okay, “Yeah…. I’m going to be okay, but I
might break out into laughter or tears at anytime”. No problem I said,
I knew that as long as she was in her studio she would feel loved and
safe. She then briefly told me of the divorce, change in career, and
health issues she has had and that dreaming of dance had kept her
positive and with a chin up.
We will call her “Sally” for this editorial (out of respect for her
privacy). Sally came into my studio over one year ago. Hiding in the
back of the studio, wearing loose clothing to cover her body, and trying
not be noticed. Sally is an older woman with three kids and the only
time she would do anything for herself was when she came to my classes.
She had never danced before in her life and it had always been her
dream. I noticed her only because she worked hard and didn’t choose the
easy way out. Usually those are the students that stay in my school and
are attracted to my format.
After weeks of her being in class I asked her why she always hid her
body. I always like to see my students so I can help them with posture
and with her clothing it made it very difficult. When I told her this
she looked at me with amazement and said, “you don’t want to see me”. I
grabbed her by the shoulders and said “Oh yes I do, now the next time I
see you in dance class I want to see you in dance clothes”. I was
worried I would never see her again, but she came back…. This time with
jazz pants and a long sleeve t-shirt. Now this was fine for awhile until
the hot weather set in. Around this time I realized that she was taking
two classes per week and still had not become a member of the school to
receive the discounted rates. Sally was struggling with my format, but
enjoying the challenge. She was even attending the dance movement
classes and making sure to have well rounded training (which is what I
preach in my school…anyway). Her body was getting stronger and she was
loosing weight and feeling good about herself again which she confessed
that she hadn’t felt about her body since before having kids.
I approached her about becoming a member of the school and she became
totally withdrawn. Sally explained to me that if she became a member
that she would receive the free tank top that we give out and that she
just couldn’t take the pressure of having to wear it and show her arms.
She felt over weight and embarrassed of her body and arms. I flung a
tank top at her and told her that she didn’t have to join the school,
but I wanted her in a tank top. I usually wouldn’t be so pushy, but I
felt that she wanted to come out of her shell and maybe needed a push.
She looked at me and asked if it was okay to show her arms. I held her
face and told her that she was beautiful and that she needed to show
her arms so she can become free from her own mind. The next class she
came with tank top and all…..a big smile….. Sally looked beautiful. At
each class after that I saw Sally in a new tank top and tight cloths
showing off her secure and stronger body. She was also starting to wear
bright colors too. I would make a point to notice her and how hard and
how far she had come.
It is women like Sally that give me the most joy of teaching. I would
always thank her for choosing me and the studio to spend her time, that
isn’t with her family. I know how hard it is to juggle a family and I
let my other mothers in class know how I appreciate their effort in
coming to class. To find time for yourself and then take the time is
really hard once you become a parent. Something happens and your brain
tells you that should feel guilty to take time out for yourself. It is a
daily battle to maintain a personal sense of self.
When asked about why people take my classes, I always tell people that
they walk through my studio door thinking that they want to take a
belly dance class, but really they want to change their life. I was so
happy to see Sally yesterday. I’m not sure who feels more of a sense of
healing, Sally or me. I think I need her just as much as she needs me.
That is what my format is all about, to strive and not let your mind
tell you that you can’t do anything. Push through the limits and don’t
just settle for easy. You are worth it and deserve the truth. My
format is for every age, body type, and level…. You just have to want to
improve…. That is the hard part.
So for all the Sally’s out there…. I thank you for giving me your day,
hour, and heart to heal through the dance. It is through your growth
that I keep going in my dream to create a studio that is a community and
not just a pretty face.
