“Why I Love Dance” Link-Up

Recently, one of my favorite things about the blogging community has been the idea of Link-ups, where bloggers can all share a post they’ve written on a single topic in one place and read the blogs of others. I wrote one called “Weekly Wishes,” and I’ve got several more coming up in the month of September to help keep me motivated to keep blogging. So I’m hosting a very simple one to get the ball rolling called “Why I Love Dance.” At the bottom of this post you’ll find instructions on how to add your post. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a post you write specifically for this link-up–feel free to share anything that generally relates to why you love dance.

If you don’t have a blog and would like to write a post, you can contact me about getting yours posted here. I would love to have it!

button

Why I love dance

As a kid, I did practically every sport imaginable. I did dance, gymnastics, t-ball, soccer, swimming, cheerleading, and more I’m sure I’m forgetting (however I was NOT a runner as a kid–I kind of can’t believe that I am now). The one I probably the missed the most, however, was dance.

I took ballet (as well as other dance classes) for two years in elementary school before my mom switched up what dance studio I was attending–and soon after that I quit and moved on to take gymnastics classes. Growing up, I was always jealous of those who had stuck with it and were dancers and thinking to myself that I couldn’t possibly go back to it–I was always too old (sidenote: this post on What Sends Grownups to the Barre is highly accurate). It wasn’t until my junior year of college that I actually decided I could go back and it took a lot to get me there.

Surprisingly, my first dance class as an “adult” wasn’t ballet, in fact, it was a hip-hop class with a friend. We went to a tiny studio a fair distance away. While I enjoyed it and we swore we’d go back, it was truthfully too much of a commute for a Sunday morning, which was primarily my homework day. But still, I wanted to dance, and was forever jealous of my boyfriend’s participation in dance performances at Temple.

My next class was a hip-hop fitness class that just wasn’t for me (sorry, but shaking my butt for 45 minutes just isn’t my thing). I think the primary reason I had chosen hip-hop was because it seemed easier and that more beginners were doing it, but it wasn’t working out for me.

Eventually, somehow, I ended up walking into a dance supply store and ended up purchasing a pair of ballet slippers after I found an absolute beginners class online. Then I knew I HAD to go to ballet, despite being terrified.

But, I fell in love.

Dance primarily serves an escape for me, I think. It’s a hobby, but sometimes it’s so much more. It’s an escape–the times I’m struggling or stressed out the most are the times I feel like I need to get into a ballet studio even more. Although every week I go in terrified I’m going to mess something up or make a fool out of myself I get to come out stronger every week having learned something more.

Why have you fallen in love with dance?

Add Your Post

The rules are simple (and pretty flexible):

1. Your blog post must relate to the topic in some way. Like I said, it’s pretty much open as long as some how the post communicates in some way why dance is important to you.

2. Link back to this post if you want. Here’s an easy widget you can use if you’d like:

Adult Ballerina Project

3. Comment on the blog link that was posted before yours to share the love!

Entries will be open until the end of September, so keep sharing!


Love and Running: Your Responses

Quite a while ago, I put out a post requesting responses to how runner’s felt about running with their significant other. I was curious to see what type of responses I’d get after reading Runner’s World’s Can Love and Running Coexist?

Personally, 9 out of 10 times, HQ and I will be run together, but every once in awhile we’ll split up. I’m a good amount slower runner than he is, so he has to slow down the pace significantly to run with me. Although that’s not usually a problem, sometimes it’ll drive me crazy that he’ll sprint ahead to pass someone/something (without realizing what he’s doing). We ran our last 5k together at the same pace until he sprinted off at the end. I think for our next race, at the end of September, I’ll vote for us running separately so we can both try and get the best time we can. Sometimes I think it’s easier to push myself to a higher pace when by myself, although I’m not sure why–HQ is capable of any speed I will run at.

I’ve always found it funny that in the Runner’s World story, it discusses how females are usually the ones who want to talk and chat during the run–but we’re the opposite. HQ will always be observing everything and talking (mostly because my speed is a conversational pace for him, while it’s not for me). For the most part, I like to keep quiet anyway.
Running Styles

Here’s some of what you guys had to say on the topic to various questions I asked:

Do you run with your significant other? Why or why not?

“My husband and I often run at different times because that is what our schedules allow.  When we are free at the same time we like to run on the treadmill next to each other.  This allows us to go different paces and still be together.  We have run two road races together and we are looking forward to more.  We start the race together and then follow our individual paces.” –Susan of Simply Modern Dance

“We do not train together for the most part. We have a 5 year old, so one of us has to be home unless we hire a sitter for our runs. Since we prefer to go out first thing in the morning, child care is a little tough to come by, so we coordinate our runs separately. However, we do sign up for most of the same races. We haven’t had any issues organizing at-race care for our son so far, and he loves to watch and do the fun runs when available.” — Jennifer of Runs With Pugs

“I no longer run with my husband. I felt like I was holding him back with his running. He has a much faster pace then i do. I always worry that I hold him back when we do run together. We both like to listen to music when we run but he prefers running inside on a track or treadmill and I prefer outside. we also have difference in WHEN we like to run. He likes early mornings and I prefer late night. Because we dont run together anymore, we have found that actually working out, either to a DVD program or following a program that I built for us is just as romantic as a date with dinner and a movie.” –Danielle of SAD Fitness

Do you worry (if you’re at different paces) about slowing down the other person or if you’re faster leaving the other person behind?

“Only some of the time.  We can do short runs around the neighborhood together with our daughter in the jogging stroller and our son on his bike, but he’s still too little to keep up with us for more than a mile or so.  It’s easier for us to run separately and take turns hanging out with the kids.  As for races, if we’re running for time, we run separately as I’m just a bit faster than he is (for now) – I’d love to be able to run an entire race with him though, maybe when we do one of the Disney ones for fun!” –Kristin, A Mom on The Run

Do you find that you and your significant other want to do different things while running, ie one of you wants to talk, the other would rather listen to music, think, etc.?

“Yes!!  I like to put in my ear buds and zone out, listening to music or podcasts.  He does when he’s alone, but likes to chat if we’re together.  I’m not coordinated enough to run, chat, and breathe all at once!” –Kristin

Anything else to add on the subject?

“My husband has been running for a few years and I am new to the sport.  I have always danced and find the transition challenging. I wasn’t sure what to expect from running together, but it has been better than I could have imagined.  We share the joy of reaching our personal goals and cheering each other on.  It has given us something new to talk about.  Not to mention, racing has give us a new shared experience and we have made new friends through running together.” –Susan

“I love that we have something so amazing that we share, especially something that’s healthy and has an ever-changing goal. It keeps things fresh and exciting.” –Jennifer

Do you run with your significant other?