Dance deserves the respect given to any sport

An 83-year-old friend of mine recently won an impromptu dance competition at the Performing Arts Center. The contest came into being because travel problems plagued the evening’s act. Contestants were of all ages, and winners were chosen by the audience. My friend is a former professional dancer, but still…83…that’s pretty darned good.

I love dance, but do not have the penchant for anything beyond “majoretting” in high school. So, when I come around next time, I’m going to be a fantastic dancer, and oh yeah, singer, too.

I watched an amateur production of “The Nutcracker" the other night, particularly watching the young boys to see how they handled ballet. It brought back memories of how the boys in our school musicals were made fun of by athletes, coaches, administrators and fathers, some of whom refused to let their sons participate in such sissy stuff. You had to be brave to sing and dance on the high school stage in front of people who called you fairy and fag.

I am a true lover of nearly all sports. Having taught them for years, I now watch them avidly, and I can truly say that a dancer is as fine an athlete as any football, basketball or baseball player. I would put any sport participant in competition with a good dancer, for strength, control, self-discipline and success.

The story of dancing en pointe is fascinating. I wish I had the room to tell you the whole story, and I recommend that you look it up and discover the difficulties ballet dancers have encountered through the years. I challenge anyone who thinks that dancing is for sissies to try it. What you might not know is that every muscle in the body is challenged repeatedly during a rehearsal or performance. Try on the “toe shoe” used for dancing en pointe, just stand on it. You won’t be able to dance because of your precarious balance, your toes jammed against the tip of the shoe, your ankles trying to maintain stability, your calves knotted to maintain strength and the rest of your body not sure exactly what to do.

So why do these dancers continue to torture themselves in this way? For the love of the art, the feeling of accomplishment following a performance, and perhaps just because dancing takes over your body and soul.

I am encouraging all parents to, in turn, encourage their children to discover the joys of dance, as well as other sports. I have not forgotten two incidents that occurred when I was directing a summer outdoor musical at my school. A young man was dropped off by his mother who was not encouraging, but threatening the loss of summer privileges. It was a punishment, not a treat.

Our young male choreographer was dressed in a leotard (summers in Sacramento may reach as high as 110 for any number days at a time). The young man took one look at him, ran to the pay phone and yelled at his mother, “Come and get me. I’m not doing this, Some guy in his pajamas says he is going to teach us how to dance.” Over the summer and through his next three years, he became one of our leading actors and dancers.

The next year, a coach showed up with four young men on the first day of summer rehearsal. The players had failed Spanish and would not be able to play in the fall unless they made up time with a summer class. There was no Spanish class. I told them they had a choice: Work outside building the set, or singing and dancing in the show. Of course, they chose the set…until they had worked in the 110-degree heat for about four days in a row. They decided to sing and dance, and ended up having a wonderful time.

I guess it’s all in what you’ve been taught. This year, try something new. Learn the appreciation of those who interpret music and dance for us. You may find fulfillment you never knew was possible.