Happy (belated) National Dance Day, folks! If you passed up July 29th in unknowing ignorance of this fabulous holiday, don’t worry – dance is something that can be celebrated all year round!
I’ve been taking dance classes since I was a little over three years old. I don’t remember a time in my life when I wasn’t twisting my hair into a bun and heading off to dance class after school.
As I grew, so did the variety of dance that I was exposed to. I started with ballet, just like every other little girl in a tiny pink tutu, but eventually other styles piqued my interest. I found all the different forms of movement so mesmerizing and so beautiful, each in their own way.
But you don’t need to attend a formal class to celebrate dance. I dance around my home all the time (just ask my mom), from attempting pirouettes in the kitchen to doing “juju on that beat” as my means of travel through the hallways.
The great thing is that dance can be taken anywhere and celebrated by anyone – you can dance with your friends, with your family, even by yourself – I know I’m not the only one who loves impromptu dance parties in my room! You can take a class and try something new, or you can stay in your home and play Just Dance on your TV. No matter the location, dance simply makes me happy, and I hope you find this to be true for you as well!
If you want a glimpse into the life and journey of a dancer, check out To Dance by Siena Cherson Siegel. I LOVED this graphic novel when I was younger – I would stare at the drawings of the ballerinas for hours, and the images still remain vivid in my memory. I could probably recite the entire book even today, and it holds such a special place in my heart and reminds me of why I dance.
If just reading about dance isn’t enough to satisfy you, the library offers a variety of CDs in the Clevnet catalog and music online through Hoopla. Whether you’re looking for some classical music and want to hit the barre (the ballet barre, that is), or you want something a little more upbeat and modern, the library has you covered.
Happy dancing!
Hailey Oppenlander is a volunteer in the Marketing Department at the GCPL Administration Center. She is currently reading In Cold Blood by Truman Capote.
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