Candy Cane Madness - A Core Dance Memory

It’s 1999. My tiny 5-year-old body was acrobat-ing its little heart out. The music was flowing, my tricks were tricking, the audience was clapping. 

I knew what I was doing and smiled a big cheesy smile while doing it. 

Then all of sudden, as I was coming out of a press-up (a backbend, but from lying down), my neck twisted against the energy flow. 

My first-ever near whiplash experience was mortifying. The tears immediately dropped out of my eyes with such weeping velocity, I wasn’t sure if they would stop. 

I saw a sea of faceless shadows in the audience. Faceless. My dance teacher was shouting.The lights were bright. I couldn’t move. Like a deer in headlights, paralyzed.

That was the first time I’ve ever been truly scared. I didn’t know what to do. I just kept crying and crying and crying not only because of the pain, but because it was also keeping me from dancing. 

I was extra sad because I really liked my costume. It was a Christmas themed acrobatics routine and I was dressed in a hella cute red and white striped costume. My classmates and I were the cutest candy canes ever. 

But this neck krink was the start of a long history with neck-trauma. It was this moment at 5-years-old that I first realized how fragile the body can be. 

It was the first time I ever had a fear of dying. That knowing at any moment, it could all end. 

Luckily, this was a Dress Rehearsal, not the actual Recital. I had some time to heal and be extra careful next time. 

I don’t remember if I tried the rest of the dance. I just remember the sadness and pain. 

But this traumatic experience didn’t stop me from going after my dance dreams. I went back to class. I did the recital. It was a learning experience, one where I discovered my strength to keep moving. 

I didn’t stop dancing for years to come and now I get to share my stories with all of you. 

I get to share Bella’s story with you. I get to encourage those dreamers of yours (and you) to go for those dance dreams through her. I couldn’t be more grateful to have this opportunity.