Children, Athletics and the Arts

My weekends are extremely busy these days. I make most of my money on the weekends teaching gymnastics and officiating indoor track meets and thus spend most of that time surrounded by young people. The weekend of Jan. 22, was especially busy and especially wonderful.

Both of my daughters dance on the Competition Team at Concord Dance Academy . I do not care if they ever dance on Broadway or even win one of their current competitions. For me, (and for them) it is about building commitment and self discipline. Being on stage develops confidence and poise and both of their teachers have remarked at how well Molly and Gracie present themselves at school. It is also about their love of dance. For me, this is the reward - daughters with self confidence and poise and a passion for something. I also like that they are connected to something larger than themselves. They are part of a team. They, on the other hand, love the "big stage" and the applause!

On Jan. 22, The Concord City Auditorium hosted it's Annual Rhythm of the Night Dance Show. This yearly performance showcases local dance studios and the dancers who learn there. The performers in this show ranged from age 6 to 18. They were children, performing amazing dances to a full house. I have been to a couple of these now and I have to say this was by far the best collection of talent yet. Concord has a variety of Dance Studios, large and small that obviously produce confident and poised dancers. The show was wonderful.

Each participating school had three dance productions in the line up. Concord Dance Academy had two tap pieces (one of which my daughter was a participant) along with a Lyrical piece. Each of the other schools had a variety of numbers and styles of dance and each seems to have thier niche'. Turning Point Center of Dance had a stunning ballet performed to "Simple Gifts", Dancesteps Etc. put on a wonderful version of "Thriller," Gen's Dance Studio performed a haunting lyrical piece and Creative Workshop of Bow and McKenna Dance Studio showcased some lively Hip-Hop. The New Hampshire School of Ballet once again executed their signature breath-taking grace in the ballet number "Into the Sea" and Captial City Dance wowed the hall with a unique Pom Pon Dance done to "Jingle Bells."

This was no dance recital to be suffered through waiting for your little sweetheart to do her 3 minute dance. This was a SHOW. I left the theatre impressed and proud to be part of a community that has such commitment to the arts and to it's young people.

Transition now to a crowded indoor track arena at UNH. Hundreds of high-school athletes running, jumping and throwing for their high school teams. Mom's and dad's craning their necks to get a glimpse of their child running by. My best estimate says that the number of people at the track meet was roughly double that from the previous nights show. There were 400 athletes competing!

The high jump, one of the more popular spectator events in track and field was wrapping up at one end of the facility. There was just one boy left, from Nashua South High School. He had already won the event (meaning all of the other jumpers had missed their attempts) but was going for a better height. It didn't take long for the crowd to realize that something special was happening. With each height he cleared, the cheers from the crowd intensified. He made his all-time best. Then the bar went up again and virtually every spectator was crammed around the jumping venue. The relay race on the track had to be delayed. The silence was incredible as the official measured the bar, and then the rhythmical clapping, so often seen on TV for our nations athletes began in the crowd softly at first and then loud and fast. The young boy, heady now with adrenaline and success ran to the bar and cleared the new height. A new school record! The crowd went wild. Although he failed at the next height, the complete silence as he contemplated his approach, the clapping of the crowd as he ran, and the one loud "awwwwww" as he missed was tear inducing to more than one member of the crowd. When he was done he raised his hands in the air and received cheers and applause from people who didn't even know his name. It was an athletic moment at it's best.

I share these stories because they remind me of why we should be doing the things we do. That internal motivation and desire to be a better person are qualities that are instilled in dancers and athletes (and musicians and students) who then learn to become happy with a job well done as their reward. The sounds of the audience cheering and clapping is simply the frosting on the cake for them....and a way for us the spectators, to be a part of something magical. Yes, that was a busy weekend, but a wonderful one as well.