Why I Dance at Pretenders by Cece Cody

The heat of the fireplace tickled my fingers and the cool hardwood below my feet sent a shiver down my spine. I struck my best pose and counted to eight before my dad pulled back the record player’s needle and the guitar strums of “We” by Neil Diamond filled our living room. “Five-six-seven-eight!” Looking up, I realized I was no longer a six-year-old in her living room, but a thirteen-year-old, standing at the barre for the first warm-up of class..

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Cece Cody
Why I Dance at Pretenders - Blythe

Why do I dance? I dance because it gives me a chance to express myself. When I dance at the Pretenders Studio I can express myself surrounded by a community of people that share my same passion for dance. To me the Pretenders Studio is more than just a dance studio it’s a community and a family. A community of people who support me no matter what. And when I dance at the Pretenders Studio I dance with a loving, caring, community.


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Blythe Dominque
Why I Dance at Pretenders - Sophie

I dance because it’s fun. I can forget everything else & just dance! From the first day I entered the studio, I loved it. The Pretender’s Studio makes me want to do my best and try my hardest. The other dancers are supportive and the teachers are great role models. The Pretender’s Studio is more than a dance studio, it’s my dance family. I like the community we have built and that we give back through community service. Dance is my favorite thing to do and the Pretender’s Studio is my favorite place to be.


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Sophie McGowan
Why I Dance at Pretenders - Tess

I dance for the feeling of freedom. I dance for the feeling of joy. Dance releases something in me. It releases stress and anxiety, and it helps me forget anything bad that may have happened in the past. Dance also helps me express myself in a way that nothing else does. "Why do you dance?" is a question that has been presented to many people throughout history. Answers vary, but many relate to emotion. Personally, dance is lifesaver. It keeps me afloat, and it helps me to thrive.


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Tess Rosenfeld
Why I Dance at Pretenders - Zoe

When you see a dance performance, you see that the performers put a lot of work into it, you see that they’re having fun, and you see that they love what they are doing. But very few realize how deep those feelings go. Dance is a way to express yourself, when there may not be another way to. I personally have gone through many things that have been very hard to talk about or express in another way. Dance is the other way. Dancing is my safe feeling.

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Zoe Dale
Why I Dance at Pretenders - Chelsea

I’ve been dancing at the Pretenders for nine years, and despite being too young to really partake in the decision, it remains one of the best choices I’ve made. The Pretenders family fosters an environment extraordinarily difficult to match…

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Chelsea McCann
Why I Dance at Pretenders - Bella

When I first thought about the answer to this question, I thought it was simple. I believed that the sole reason I dance is because it makes me happy. While contemplating this prompt, I soon realized that this question has a deeper answer.

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Bella Salem