To my Step Up 2 Dance family,
July 11, 2015 was the day I joined the SU2D family.
I was an ambassador for the Shining Star program. I worked with dance teachers from around the world. I met 9 other amazing girls who were phenomenal dancers. I learned a dance that was not only well out of my comfort zone but well out of my dance style. And I met my family.
During our three hour practice, on the last run through, my knee locked. I couldn't move it for 30 seconds. I was no longer in control. I limped out of practice just to get back to the room and collapse on the bed. My knee bruised instantly and it was one of the strongest levels of pain I had ever felt before.
The next morning, I popped a couple pain killers and did both my team number and my ambassador number.
I walked out with a platinum for my team number. And I received third place in the ambassador program.
Third.
Out of 32,000 dancers who attended the competition, I not only made the top ten but I made third.
I have no background in classical dance like the girls I competed against. No ballet, no jazz, no lyrical. Nothing.
I took Irish Step for about 6 months. I did hip-hop for 2 years. And I've been clogging for 10 years.
You guys had only heard about clogging, you'd never seen it. You had no idea what the steps were. What it was supposed to look like. And you had no idea how to judge it.
So making it third was a dream I never thought would have actually happened.
But it did and I am so proud of myself for not giving up.
Most of you don't know that a month after the competition, I had surgery on my left knee. I was dancing two weeks afterwards, quite easily of course. That's the only reason I even considered it. Without the surgery, I wouldn't have been able to dance. Now, a year later, I have an appointment to meet with the surgeon again. I wish to have surgery on my right knee as well. I don't have very long until it gets to the point where I was before.
But that's alright. I'm going to make it through again. Clogging is what I love. It's my passion. It's my life. It's what lead me to my SU2D family.
I miss you guys more than I can ever express. Meeting and working with each of you has taught me many lessons I will never forget. You pushed me out of my comfort zone. You drilled me harder than I had ever been drilled before. You set the universe in front of me and made me achieve my dreams and for that I am so grateful.
You guys aren't just the people I dance with. You're the people I share my passion with. You're part of my insane dance family and I wouldn't have it any other way.
So to my SU2D family... I may not have been there physically for nationals this past weekend, but I was there cheering you all on in spirit. I love you all so much.
Now go and dance for me!
