Like many little girls I was introduced to dance at a young age. One Saturday morning, aged 3, my parents sent me to Miss Kim’s Dance School.
It wasn’t so much a baptism of fire, more like one of snow. It was approaching Christmas and we were preparing for the Christmas show. Dancing to Aled Jones’ Walking in the Air, myself and the rest of the 3-5 year olds were dancing snowflakes – although I was a pink snowflake because they didn’t have a white tutu small enough for me! I must have stuck out like a sore thumb. And talking of thumbs, for the duration of the piece I sucked mine whilst walking round in a circle holding hands with my friend Lucy. It was simple choreography but one of which I have very fond memories and one which led to my love of dance and ultimately Dance Pad.
As we enter into the new year I got thinking back to these early dancing days and wondered what I might have done if I hadn’t chosen a career in dance. I realised that even if I hadn’t chosen it as a career path, it still had the power to shape me as a person. Among many other things dance taught me that hard work and perseverance pay off, I made new friends and most importantly it gave me the confidence and self-belief that I was capable of anything I set my mind to – something I hope we can give to all Dance Pad participants.