Join dancer, Avery Gelhorn, as she reunites with her home dance studio, and reminisces on her dance family and the impact they had on her dance journey:

More Than Four Walls

 

 

 

 

 

Beyond the Four Walls

Reflecting on the Lifelong Impact of a Dance Environment.

Returning Home

            After her first semester at York University in Toronto, Avery Gelhorn finds herself returning to her home studio, Performing Arts Warehouse, reuniting with her roots after graduating to pursue a professional dance career. As she walks through the familiar corridors, memories flood back, highlighting the profound influence of her dance community which shapes her artistic path. Avery’s journey reflects the enduring bond between dancers and their beloved studio, illustrating the transformative power of dance in all aspects.

The Highs and Lows Of the Dance Community

            For many aspiring dancers, the dance community serves as a cornerstone, offering benefits that extend beyond the physical movements. Competitive dance teams instill responsibility, ownership, and self-reflection in participants, fostering self-worth and a drive for personal success. The companionship within a dance family cultivates resilience, reliance, and discipline preparing dancers for success both on and off the stage. Alongside the long list of benefits, a supportive dance environment nurtures teamwork, leadership, and overall essential life skills that lay the foundation for future endeavors. Ask almost any dancer, there are never enough words to describe how impactful a supportive dance teacher and peers are on one’s life beyond the studio. 

“With exposure to industry professionals, dancers have a chance to build relationships that can help bridge the gap from dance as a hobby to dance as a career” (DeMaria, 2021).

            For dancers like Avery, her family at the Performing Arts Warehouse is more than just a place to practice. It’s a second home where lifelong bonds have been created and engraved in her heart. The fellowship runs deep, providing a support system that like many dancers, helped Avery navigate the challenges that she has faced throughout her early dance career. A well-rounded dance community like the Performing Arts Warehouse encourages confidence, social skills, and openness to new opportunities and feedback, equipping dancers with the tools they need to manage defeat and stress.

 

“Dance develops relationships, connects people, and increases feelings of joy and togetherness” (Tao et al., 2022).

            Over many years together, a dance team’s bond tightens through shared triumphs and tribulations, fostering a village that carries dancers through life’s ebbs and flows. With fertile ground, dancers may blossom in fulfillment, opportunity, and empowerment to confront adversity with as much resilience and grace as they exhibit on stage.

            However, the dance world isn’t without controversies and challenges. Not all dancers have the privilege of experiencing a nurturing environment. As lucky as the dancers at the Performing Arts Warehouse have been, many other dance studios are infiltrated with toxicity. A hindering dance environment, emotionally hindering teachers, and lack of support for dancers have had many lasting effects on the mental and physical health of students. Unrealistic expectations and harmful practices can take a toll on their well-being, leading to injuries and burnout among dancers. Let alone the rising issues of body image, eating disorders, comparison, and low self-worth are all factors of deficiencies in competitive dance. It begins with dance educators and mentors who guide dancers when it comes to the emphasizing importance of an inclusive, mindful, and positive dance studio environment. Avery appreciates the unwavering support of her mentors and teachers over the years, acknowledging its importance, and aspiring to carry meaningful practices with her as her influence on young dancers grows.

“As teachers of talented or gifted individuals, their impact is sometimes underestimated, possibly in the first place by the teachers themselves” (Van Rossum, 2004).

Reflecting On Her Journey

            For Avery, the dance community serves as a beacon of resilience, offering a safe haven where she can express herself freely and authentically. Follow along while Avery takes a walk down memory lane, showing her reflections and memoirs from the experiences and relationships that dance has brought into her life. The Performing Arts Warehouse represents a sanctuary for Avery – a place where dreams are nurtured, friendships are forged, and spirits are lifted. As Avery reflects on her journey as a dancer and looks forward to her future in dance, she knows that no matter where her journey takes her, her dance family will always be there to support and uplift her. A dance studio may just be four walls, but many dancers will testify that it is the heartbeat of a community united in pursuit of artistic expression and human connection.

“If I could tell you what it meant, there would be no point in dancing it”

Isadora Duncan (The mother of modern dance)