After all this time, here's to you. It seems that time has slipped away from me and I have been unable to dedicate as much time to writing as I would like. As a graduating senior this past semester, I had so much going on that it was hard to write about every little exciting thing. However, I have so much to be proud of and am excited to share with you all soon. Throughout my four years of college, there is something that has been weighing on my heart, however. While it may seem that everyone in my life is so supportive of my journey and career path now, it wasn't always this way. I truly believe it is water under the bridge, but it's impossible for me to forget the person that did not have faith that I could become a dance teacher. When I first enrolled as a dance major, this was something I thought a lot about. I was so distrusting of everyone that showed the littlest bit of faith in me, and I felt like I had something to prove. I was left with a bitter taste in my mouth and anytime I failed or made a mistake on my dance journey I was filled with fear that this person was right all along. As time went on, this feeling faded away. I have studied with some of the most beautiful, inspiring, and encouraging people I will ever meet. I aimed to achieve my goals and move forward instead of attempting to rewrite the past and surpass the expectations of an individual that is no longer in my life. I let go of the life I had and created a new one where dance exists and is joyful in a new way. I am no longer motivated by the satisfaction of proving someone wrong, but with the faith that I am destined to achieve greatness and pass this on to others as a dance educator. There are a million and one things I have wanted to say to this person in the past four years. My anger and frustration have festered for a long time and I have spent many nights crying to myself about what I cannot control. I have written and rewritten posts like this and kept them to myself because not only do I feel the words never come out right, but I do not want to slander this person or harbor any resentment anymore. The past is the past, and I believe you had your reasons and rationale. Now, there are only eight little letters, two short words, that I have left to say. Thank you. Thank you for not supporting my decision to study dance in college. If you had guided me through the college admission process as I had hoped you would, I probably wouldn't have ended up at Bridgewater State University. BSU has given me countless opportunities, friendships, and mentors and I am so grateful that I enrolled there. Thank you for not giving me any opportunity that took up too much of my time that I would have had to quit my summer job. I love my job and have learned so much from working there for the past five summers. I wouldn't trade that experience and the friendships I have made there for the world. Thank you for my love of musical theatre. If I had never needed a break from dance, I never would have gotten involved with theatre in the first place. Theatre has given me improvisation skills, confidence, and lasting friendships. Although it is a small thing on this long list, I am forever grateful that not only was my break short lived, it lead me to another beautiful art form. Thank you for reminding me of what my body cannot do. You left me with a curiosity for what my body is capable of. During this investigation, I learned to see dance as an expressive art form and I have fallen in love with the language of movement. While I still struggle with body positivity, I have begun to make peace with body for what it looks like and what it can do. Thank you. Thank you for the nights of tears and broken dreams. While those nights aren't fond memories, they taught me what pain really feels like and how to stand back up again after being knocked down. I learned how to march on after a setback. Thank you for making me feel uncomfortable in a dance studio. It really gave me a deeper appreciation for dancing outdoors, or dancing where I didn't feel like I belonged. I'm more adaptive than I ever was. Thank you for causing me to distrust you. This made it harder for teachers to earn my trust, and ultimately they grew deeper bonds with me through it. I also learned to not put my faith in people so quickly, and when to draw the line if someone is a negative influence. Thank you for teaching me that if I want something, I have to work for it. And fight for it. I have to continuously go to Plan B or even Plan C to achieve my goals. I have practiced the art of "fake it till ya make it" and have leaped over obstacles that come my way. Thank you for pushing me away, because letting go of the life I once had would have been far too difficult for me. If I hadn't left, I wouldn't be where I am today. You pushed me towards a new light shone by people who would lift me up. My life has changed for the better so much that most of the people reading this won't know who this letter is for. Thank you for them. Today, I hold a Bachelor's degree in dance and now I am licensed dance educator in the Massachusetts Public School System for grades pre-k to 12. I am also proud to share that I will be attending New York University Steinhardt (my dream school!) in the fall to earn my Master of Arts in dance education. Most importantly, I have a big thank you card hanging up in my room from my fourth grade students this semester. I made a difference in those kids' lives in just a few short months, and I am looking forward to giving the gift of dance to more students like them in the near future. Just like you said I wouldn't. Thank you for not believing in me. It taught me to believe in myself even when I had no reason to, because someone had to.
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AuthorWelcome to my blog! Popular PostsArchives
September 2020
Offline Updates7/16 Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the showcase I was selected to choreograph for at NYU was unfortunately cancelled. However, I was able to turn my work into a mini-documentary about the choreographic process and art prevailing during these trying times. You can watch my video my clicking the button below!
9/18 Follow my new Instagram just for my dance things!
12/23 I was one of NDEO's Guest Bloggers this year! Read "Teaching is a Vocation. Not a Fallback" on their Behind the Curtain Blog!
9/27 I will be presenting my research at the National Dance Education Organization National Conference next week! See my research project by clicking the button below!
4/15 While working on PMA's production of The Addams Family, I got to combine my two favorite styles of dance (ballet and musical theatre) for "The Moon and Me"! Watch my talented students dance by clicking the button below!
2/20 I am choreographing PMA Theatre Guild's Production of The Addams Family! Come see these amazing high school students perform at Presentation of Mary Academy in Methuen, MA April 13 & 14! Tickets available at the door.
2/20 I am stage managing BSU's Dance Kaleidoscope this year! Show dates are March 29-31 at Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater, MA. Come see this student choreography showcase!
11/5 I will once again be dancing in a BSUDC concert! Tickets to WinterDance are now available!
8/24 NDEO's National Honor Society for Dance Arts has published one of my articles in their newsletter! Read an updated version of "Audition Advice" here:
5/16 Interested in learning about movement concepts? Visit Becca's new Educational Dance website!
5/8 BSU Dance Company's Dance Kaleidoscope 2017 is now on Youtube! You can watch my performances by visiting the VIDEOS page!
4/23 I recently performed for the residents of Allerton House in Hingham, MA! You can watch part of my performance here!
Amesbury Children's Theatre presents...James and the Giant Peach Jr, featuring choreography by me! Click for tickets!
2/8 My piece "Barefoot" is now available to watch online! Click to watch!
2/5 Happy to say I have been cast in BSU Dance Company's Spring concert Dance Kaleidoscope! I will be dancing in 3 faculty choreographed pieces, including excerpts from The Sleeping Beauty in which I will be dancing the role of Lilac Fairy! Show dates are March 31-April 1 at Bridgewater State University.
Click the button for more info! 1/15 Ballet with Becca is now on Facebook! Click to visit the page, and be sure to like it while you're there!
1/14 I am happy to say I will be attending artEmotion's summer intensive in June! I will be dancing in the one week artEmotion Adult Program. If anyone would like to join or audition for any other artEmotion program, visit their website!
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