WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO CELEBRATE BEING FAB OVER 40?
I have one 8 x 12 enlarged photo taken of me at age 22, a handful of maybe 6 snapshots of myself dancing in musicals before age 30 and a couple of posed stills at age 50. Otherwise nada!!! Considering that I have danced all my life, there is no visual documentation or evidence of this dance in existence.. until now. I so enjoy the collection we created last August.
Now I "see myself while being seen". I look at the photos and I remember that moment, the feelings and the joy of moving. I know I am a dancer but with these photos, there's proof. I see myself as a dancer.
WHAT DID YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT THIS EXPERIENCE?
As a dance educator I am always engaged in facilitating the dance experience for others and though I may join in the dance to demonstrate
or encourage others, this experience with Michele allowed me to be photographed while moving for myself. Even though it took a long time
to do this I felt that finally I honoured my dancing self.
HOW HAS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR BODY CHANGED
OVER TIME?
I know my body better than I ever did before. I know what I can ask my body to do. I know what makes me dizzy or sore. I know this body is physically strong and flexible. I love my body, lumps, bumps and idiosyncracies!
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED TO APPRECIATE MORE AS YOU
HAVE AGED?
Let me tell you here and now, that at seventy... I know what I know.
It's hard for me to even acknowledge the painful blushing shyness, the hesitancy, the uncertainty that I danced myself out of til now. But that's gone... I like who I am, I know who I am.
Share this story
