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FALL 2017
A SHOW OF SUPPORT
//
L
et me set the stage. It was my
second year at the small dance
studio I considered my home
away from home—a place where I
created a family.
When a girl a year younger than
I joined our studio, we developed an
unspoken rivalry. It was
unspoken because she had
no idea we were having
one. I would always do my
best to be nice and offer my
support when she was trying
to do a new move or perform
her solo, but, at times, all I
wanted to do was yell at her. She would
continuously say she was the best in the
class, and that she could do tricks better
than anyone else. On top of that, she would
pry the teacher away from a student who
was just trying to improve her technique
to show the instructor a new trick that she
just had to see.
When competition time came, all the
soloists began practicing their routines not
only during individual practice time, but
also in a large group dance
session. I had noticed
something off about the
girl’s solo—it had changed
every time she performed
in front of the class.The
more I paid attention
to her movements, the
more I realized she was taking pieces from
our group dances and even others’ solos.
She had taken some four- or six-count
segments of others’ choreography and
sprinkled them throughout her dance.
I didn’t think much of it because dance
is an art form and you can’t claim any
movement as your own. Once competition
day came, I wanted to do my best to
support every dancer there, so I sat in the
audience and cheered on the dancers from
my studio.When it came to this girl, I was
no different and I screamed her name, no
matter the slight resentment I had for her. I
wanted her to do well because I know how
hard and how grueling dancing can be.
She did end up doing pretty well
and got a fair amount of points for her
performance. I’m proud of what she did
and how well she performed because dance
competitions are full of impeccable dancers
all competing for the same reason: being
titled as the best.
– Madilyn McFarland
“Once competition
day came, I wanted
to do my best to
support every
dancer there…”
