Switching Dance Schools

Okay so I am new to this whole blogging thing, but I think I have some good insight that may be helpful to other Irish dancers.

I told my dance teacher yesterday that I was switching dance schools. It was a very hard decision to make, but I know I made the right one. I will miss everyone very much, but I will make new friends and have new experiences. Its a new chapter for my life. I'm starting out fresh. No presumptions or anything. Brand new. This switch is like getting a divorce. It is really tough. I do feel like I am betraying my old school. But I also feel like I just got married. A new place and new things. I will be starting with my new dance school this Monday.

I just had Oireachtas and I place 74th out of 122 dancers. I was 13 away from recalling. I was very pleased with the result because my old dance school has never gotten a dancer recalled. It was a small school and I loved while I wasn't really really into dancing, but when I wanted to go further with my dancing I knew it was time.

My advice would be: Don't be afraid to switch dance schools. Yes, the six month ban is a long time, but if you are unhappy then you won't go far and you won't succeed. What's the point of wasting that money for you to be unhappy? Research dance schools very carefully and try out a class at your top picks. Talk to the teachers and see which one you like. This took me a year to do, but I know other people that have only taken about two weeks to make their decision. Every person is different and every person has their own needs. Don't be afraid to start a new chapter in your life. It may be for the best.

Talk it over with your parents and start researching schools. Don't stay unhappy. There are a lot of kids out there that don't like their dance schools. But, just remember that no school is perfect. Every school has their own flaws. There will be things about your new school that you will love and other things that you will hate. Just be careful that you don't choose a school with more things that you hate than love.

And don't think that a dance school is like something just because of one person you see. That isn't the truth. You have to find out for yourself and not make assumptions, you may be surprised.

Another thing would be, don't think you are going to get better by switching to a dance school with a lot of really good dancers. Those dancers have worked really hard to get to where they are. They have put in a lot of time and effort to make their dancing perfect. If you want to get better you have to try. It really bothers me when someone wants to get better, but doesn't try at all in class and expects to see results. It's not gonna happen like that. You have to put in the blood, sweat, and tears to become that perfect dancer. It doesn't just happen overnight or by you not trying in class. Put the effort into it if you want to get better, don't slack off.

Comments? Please post them. Anything you want me to write about in particular? Tell me.