stories and poems about dance

1.
Written
by
Nicole
Camisa
Illustrated
by
Edgar
Degas
Edited
by
Natalie
Colgate

2.
Dedication
I
would
like
to
dedicate
this
book
to
all
of
my
dance
teachers.
They
have
always
been
there
for
me
and
helped
me
grow
as
a
person.
I
would
not
be
who
I
am
today
if
it
wasn’t
for
my
dance
teachers.
I
would
like
to
thank
them
for
everything
they
have
done
for
me
in
the
past.

3. Table
of
Content
Style
of
Dance
4
Life
of
a
Dancer
6
Things
at
Dance
Recital
10
Dance
11
Sign
up
to
dance
12
ABC of Dance Class 13
Interview 14
I Wish I Could….. 15
Dancer 16
Golden Shovel 17
About the Author 18

4. Styles
of
Dance
Children
and
adults
all
over
the
world
take
dance
classes.
There
are
many
different
styles
that
they
can
take.
Some
of
the
styles
are
closely
related
while
others
are
completely
different.
The
main
style
that
most
people
take
are
tap,
jazz,
and
ballet.
Tap
dance
is
one
style
of
dance.
It
is
where
the
dancer
makes
sounds
from
tap
shoes
striking
the
floor.
The
shoes
have
a
metal
“tap”
on
the
heel
and
the
toe.
In
tap
dancing,
the
moves
are
done
by
either
tapping
the
heel
or
toes.
Tap
dancing
is
a
unique
style
where
it
can
be
done
with
or
without
music.
It
is
really
easy
to
tap
dance
without
music
just
as
it
with
music.
The
music
in
tap
is
normally
upbeat.
There
are
two
different
styles
of
tap,
Broadway
and
rhythm.
Broadway
is
the
tap
that
is
normally
preformed
in
musical
theater.
Rhythm
tap
focuses
on
musicality
and
practitioners.
Another
style
of
dance
is
jazz.
Jazz
is
a
little
bit
similar
to
tap
but
there
are
some
differences.
Jazz
is
a
theatrical
dance.
The
shoes
are
different
from
taps
where

5. there
are
no
metal
“taps”
on
the
bottom.
They
normally
have
rubber
soles,
which
provide
traction
and
help
to
cushion
the
foot.
Jazz
is
also
some
times
done
barefoot.
This
style
contains
a
high
level
of
energy
and
a
low
center
of
gravity.
Jazz
is
a
huge
crowd
pleaser,
and
many
people
are
interested
in
watching.
The
last
main
style
of
dance
is
ballet.
Ballet
is
very
different
from
the
other
two
styles.
It
is
done
to
slower
music
instead
of
a
more
upbeat,
funky
song.
Ballet
is
highly
technical
form
of
dance.
This
is
the
foundation
of
dance.
If
someone
doesn’t
have
the
ballet
technic
they
will
not
be
as
good
as
a
tapper
or
jazz
dancer.
Ballet
is
a
lot
more
of
an
emotional
dance
then
the
other
two
styles.
The
moves
are
very
graceful
and
elegant.
Ballet
shoes
are
very
lightweight
shoes.
They
are
made
of
soft
leather,
canvas,
or
sati.
The
soles
are
thin
and
flexible.

6. Life of a Dancer
“Christina
Taylor”
This
was
it,
the
rest
of
my
life
depended
on
these
next
three
minutes.
I
waltzed
to
the
middle
of
the
stage
and
curled
down
on
the
floor.
Here
goes
nothing…
***
Life
pirouettes
away
from
you.
One
minute
you
are
three
and
having
you
first
dance
recital,
and
the
next
you
are
auditioning
for
Juilliard.
Over
the
course
of
my
life
I
have
danced
hundreds
of
dances
in
front
of
hundreds
of
crowds.
None
of
those
dances
could
have
prepared
me
for
my
audition
for
Julliard.
This
was
my
dream
school,
which
would
hopefully
lead
to
a
part
on
Broadway.
This
morning
I
woke
up
feeling
tired,
I
had
been
unable
to
sleep
last
night.
My
stomach
was
in
knots.
Any
and
all
questions
ran
through
my
mind,
what
if
I
forget
a
step?
What
if
they
don’t
like
ballet?
Should
I
have
done
a
hip
hop
routine?
During
breakfast
I
had
to
force
myself
to
eat
because
I
was
so
nervous.
My
hand
trembled
while
putting
on
my
makeup,
and
my
leg
shook
on
the
drive
to
the
theatre.
Now
here
I
was
with
my
future
in
the
hands
of
five
strangers.

7. The
music
begins
and
I
stretch
out
my
hand,
and
I
zone
out
to
the
music.,
my
body
flowing
naturally
around
the
stage.
Every
fear
and
worry
I
had
faded
into
the
music.
All
too
soon
the
music
is
over
and
I
am
waltzing
off
the
stage.
Once
I
was
safely
behind
the
curtain,
I
slumped
to
the
floor
and
cried
with
happiness.
My
routine
had
gone
perfect,
not
a
thing
had
gone
wrong.
***
A
month
had
passed
since
my
Julliard
audition
and
I
hadn’t
heard
anything
back
from
them.
As
usual
I
walked
to
the
mailbox
to
get
the
mail,
and
mindlessly
flipping
through
the
envelopes.
I
happened
to
notice
the
large,
off-­‐white
envelope
with
my
name
in
cursive.
I
run
inside
and
rip
open
the
envelope.
Scanning
the
letter
I
see
“Congratulations
Miss
Taylor,
Julliard
welcomes
you
to
our
university…”
I
scream,
and
my
mother
comes
running.
Excitedly
I
tell
her
the
news
and
we
both
smile
at
the
future
that
is
to
come.
***

8. Life
at
Julliard
was
everything
I
could
have
hoped
for,
and
then
some.
My
days
were
spent
dancing
and
then
dancing
some
more.
At
graduation
I
pirouetted
across
the
stage
and
leapt
with
my
diploma
in
my
hand.
My
dancing
career
could
officially
begin.
Tomorrow
I
had
an
audition
for
a
part
on
Broadway.
The
part
was
for
a
role
in
Hamilton,
which
would
hopefully
lead
to
bigger
and
better
roles.
***
Ten
years
has
passed
since
I
graduated
from
Julliard,
and
its
been
great.
I
have
starred
in
multiple
Broadway
productions.
Unfortunately,
after
years
and
years
of
dance
my
legs
gave
out
from
under
me
and
I
broke
my
ankle.
Even
after
my
ankle
healed
I
was
no
longer
able
to
dance
with
on
it.
Saddened
by
my
lack
of
dance
future,
I
became
a
choreographer.
One
day
after
work,
I
walked
out
onto
the
street
and
bumped
into
a
man.
I
later
married
the
man
and
am
now
pregnant
with
our
first
child.
My
life
of
dancing
had
changed
for
the
better.

9.
***
Death
is
tapping
at
my
door.
Life
has
been
kind
to
me.
I
achieved
all
my
dreams,
Julliard,
Broadway,
and
a
loving
family.
My
husband
is
right
here
beside
me,
and
we
are
surrounded
by
our
children
and
grandchildren.
My
youngest
daughter
Catherine
followed
in
my
footsteps
of
becoming
a
dancer.
She
achieved
all
of
my
dreams
and
more,
she
has
travelled
the
world
and
is
making
me
proud.
Never
could
I
have
been
prouder
than
when
she
was
dancing
her
way
across
stages
in
a
way
that
was
so
familiar
to
me.
***
Heaven
is
a
dance
stage
all
for
me.
I
dance
all
day
long,
without
ever
getting
tired.
My
joints
don’t
ache,
and
my
skin
looks
vibrant
and
young.
The
stage
is
fluffy
clouds,
that
cushion
my
feet
and
intertwine
around
my
body
in
time
to
the
music.
My
life
has
been
spent
practicing
so
hard
to
get
where
I
wanted
and
here
I
am
just
a
dancer.
No
one
is
telling
me
to
leap
higher.
No
one
is
telling
me
I
can’t
do
it.
It
is
just
my
feet
and
me,
my
dancer
feet.

10. Things at Dance Recital
Costumes
Costume accessories
Tights
Makeup
Bobbie pins
Hairnets
Hairspray
Shoes
Brush
Hair ties
Snacks
Water
Safety pins
Q-tips
Sewing kit

11. Dance
Dedication
Art
Never gives up
Choreography
Emotion

12. Ever
the
bundle
of
energy,
your
kiddo
prances
and
pirouettes
the
house
with
just
a
collection
of
teddy
bears
as
her
audience.
Give
your
tiny
dancer
an
outlet
for
her
tippy-­‐toed
twirls
with
dance
class
from
All
For
Dance.
Located
in
Deland,
FL,
this
bright
studio
offers
dozens
of
classes
from
student’s
ages
3
through
adult,
all
under
the
expert
guidance
of
dedicated
and
enthusiastic
instructors.
Registration
starts
August
1st
Classes
for
All
Ages
and
Abilities
Contact
Us
For
More
Information
All
For
Dance
23
N
Woodland
Blvd
Deland,
FL
32723
www.allfordance.com
386.974.8473

13. ABC of Dance Class
All I ever wanted to was dance
But I never got the chance
Couldn’t find the rhythm
Didn’t even have the right shoes
Eventually I got the chance to learn to dance
First it was rough
Graceful was not a word that describe me
How would I ever learn
It wasn’t until a classmate helped me out
Jill, that was her name, she
Keep on teaching me
Learning how to turn and leap
Many of the steps I couldn’t get
Never did I ever give up
Only once did I want to
Pack up and leave
Quietly I picked up my stuff trying to leave when
Randomly someone tapped me on the shoulder
Spinning around I looked to see who it was
That small little girl who danced in the corner
Unknowingly she was watching me the whole time
Very quietly she said to me
Would you like helping me learn the dance?
eXcited as a I was I told that I wasn’t that great but she disagreed
You’re an amazing dance and I want to be as good as you one day
Zipping across the floor I jumped for joy and told I would

14. Nicole- Hi Emily! How are you?
Emily- Hi Nicole! I’m good, thanks and you
N- I’m doing awesome! Thanks for asking. Lets jump into the
questions I have about dance for you. How long have you been
dancing?
E- I have been dancing for about 17 years.
N- Wow that a long time. Do you have a favorite style of dance?
Emily- I would say my favorite style of dance is ballet but I do also
really jazz.
N- Awesome! I would say that hip-hop is my favorite. Why did
you start dancing?
E- My mom put me in dance when I younger and I just feel in love
with dancing and kept up with it.
N- That awesome! I remember when I started dancing and didn’t
want to give it up. Well it was so great talking to you. I’ll see you
soon.
E- No problem. Bye!

15. I wish I could…...
I wish I could dance on Broadway
I wish I could be a Rockette
I wish I could be on Dancing with the Stars
I wish I could score a perfect score
I wish I could get this dance step
I wish I could breakdance
I wish I could dance all day long
I wish I could live at the dance studio
I wish I could teach everyone to dance
I wish I could be more flexible
I wish I could dance around the world

16. Dancer
Energetic, active, athlete,
graceful
Student of dance teacher
Lover of tap, jazz, and
ballet
Who feels happy,
emotions, and joy
Who needs music, rhythm,
and costumes
Who fears messing up,
forgetting the dance, and
dancing on the stage
Who gives entertainment,
a show, and love
Who would like to be a
Rockette, be on Broadway,
and be in a music video
Resident of the dance
studio
Dancer

17.
Dance is all I ever wanted to do,
Tomorrow I will leap as high as the Empire
State Building
Tomorrow I will do a triple turn
Tomorrow I will flap all the way to New York
and hip hop my way to class
Tomorrow I will being my leg to my head
Tomorrow I will glue my tap shoes to my feet
Tomorrow I will never give up dancing
This is what I will do tomorrow dance
By Nicole Camisa (2010)
I’m so excited for tomorrow
It was finally the day my friends and I
Have been waiting for, we will
Be on the stage and dance like never
Before, this is my time to give
It all and not let anything up
This is my shot to dance.

18. About the Author
Hi! My name is Nicole Camisa, and I am
currently a junior in college. I’m from
Robbinsville, NJ. I am attending Stetson
University. I’m majoring in elementary
education and minoring in French. I would
love to one day be able to teach children in
France. I’m currently a member of Alpha Chi
Omega. In my free time I like to dance, and
hang outing with friends and family.