5, 6, 7, 8, 1, 2, 3, 4 …

We all get in position and practice moving from side to side. We have five minutes on the clock until we have to go out on the floor for our halftime dance performance at the basketball game. As I bite my nails, Mrs. Isaacks tells me, “Everything is going to be OK. It’s not that bad.”

“All my friends are watching, and they are going to laugh at me.”

“Don’t look at them,” she tells me. “Pretend they are not there. Look at the railing.”

The bell rings, and it’s time for us to go out. I’m not ready. The music starts, and I’m thinking to myself, ‘Oh, god, it’s my time to be in the front.”

I know I must look like a tomato because I feel my body getting hot. “This can not be happening,” I think. I can tell I am kind of messing up. There are people looking at me, and they are making me scared. But I remember Mrs. Isaacks’ words: “Focus on the railing.” I do, and everything is OK.

The day of the performance was really scary because I felt like I was not ready. But ultimately, I held my head high, zoned out, and acted like no one was there. For me, that is very hard because I hate when people watch me. It scares me and makes me nervous.

Dance has helped me conquer those fears more and more. Last semester, we had a big dance performance at the PAC in front of hundreds of people. I was really scared and didn’t know how I was going to survive it. But again, I just zoned out and concentrated on the moves.

In a couple of weeks, we will have a spring dance, where we will perform all of the dances we have learned this year, including contemporary, hip-hop and jazz. A few months ago, I would have been scared out of my mind. But now, with two performances under my belt, I know I’ll be fine. I’ve gained moves. I’ve gained confidence. I’ve gained a new a passion: dance.

In the know

This year’s Spring Fling will be at 6:30 p.m. May 5.