With this weekend’s coming recital, local dance studio, Duck River Dance closes the curtains on its 10^th season. Ten years is also a milestone I share with Danelle Afflerbaugh and the great folks at DRD.

For 10 years now, I’ve taken ballet. As so many things in a writer’s life it all started with a story that I was working on. On the mend from having a hernia patched, I pitched to Danelle, how about I take a class and do a write up on it.

I was 40, and had found a new bit of athleticism (hence the hernia) after growing up decidedly being not the limber person in class. In fact I was always the last to get picked for dodgeball. And I hated stretching in PE.

Yet somehow ballet clicked. Maybe it was the French words or the structure – the intentionality of barre work. But I was hooked.

And I was bad at it. Like Phil Collins, I can’t dance. Tenues, pirouettes, frappes, pas de chats, even basic choreography – none of that came naturally for me like it did for the girls.

But I kept at it. The more I sucked, the more I tried, and tried, hoping one day to be great.

As I get ready to begin my 11th season with DRD, I realize I’ll never be great.  My hip joints are set and full turnout ain’t ever going to happen. But I still work, still stretch, and slowly I have improved.  

My falling out of single pirouettes has turned into falling out of doubles. I haven’t gotten all the way to my front splits but, damn, I’m close.

I think overall, the most important thing I learned in dance over the years was to embrace me for what I am rather than what I’m not.

I bring to class power and strength, even if my back leg never is straight like it’s supposed to be in a grand jete. I can feel the beauty of the music even if I can’t count beats.

I may not be the most graceful dancer on stage, but ballet gives me a chance to share a small part of something beautiful. 

Dance isn’t for everyone, but as someone who found it at 40, I think perhaps you should give it a try. 

John has been with the Manchester Times since May 2011. John has won Tennessee Press Association awards for Best News Photo and placed in numerous other categories. John is a 1994 graduate of Tullahoma High School, a graduate of Motlow State Community College and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Middle Tennessee State University. He lives in Tullahoma, enjoys painting, dancing and exploring the outdoors.