Dancing through the Curve

When I started my new position at NMSU it was sort of like coming home for me.  I love graphic art and design and I've worked in the University System over the last 15 years of my life many times.  There just wasn't any growing curve.  On the other hand taking up dance teaching again after a decade away has been a huge growing curve.  I'm really lucky because the gym is our second home and I get along well with everyone.  It's top in the state for gymnastics and I've got amazing resources and leaders.  Still in the last 3 months I've faced a lot of challenges.

 First off it has just been hard to get used to being a dancer.  I'm having to stretch everyday and exercise daily so I can endure sometimes two hour stretches.  I'm practicing pointe again if I choose to later on teach pointe and OMG I forgot how much that hurts when you have been dormant for a long while.  All of these things will only be a good thing in the long run for increased health.  Boy I've gotten lazy since having kids :(  No more of that for me.

The other challenge is a learning curve of just being part of a bigger organization which is Gym Magic and figuring out the needs of the program in relation to everything else.  With great help though from everyone I'm learning my way.  I'm so excited that we are indeed growing the program now.  This week we officially started our Moonbeams, Sunbeams, and Little Stars for our popular gym dance combinations.

This means we have divided our 3-6 yr old Ballet/Gym Combo into two different levels and are now building a third level for girls who are older.  The joy of seeing on Thursday classes for our littlest dancers ages 3-4 and than teaching 4-5's was amazing.  Saturday we did the same but now we also have a 5-7 yr old class.  It was awesomeness teaching each student exactly at their level.  I'm excited for the next step which will be to build a program for older kids in ballet, jazz, lyrical, and modern so our little girls will grow into the program and we can reach more students.

And we started our amazing new show group.  We have about 65 girls enrolled currently in dance.  A few parents made the choice to sign up for our show group and we had our first presentation last Saturday at the mall.  Despite a snafu with music everyone was just amazing.  I love my students each so much (especially Rachey) and I can't wait to see how everything grows in years to come.

So if you're in Cruces and have a child interested in dance let me know!