Lisa’s dance uniform was everything. She cherished it, wore it everywhere. Until, that is, she took a new dance class where she felt inferior and started to see things in a different light.
A gorgeous and honest essay. Maybe we’ve all been that little child coming face to face with a world that is hard and sometimes even cruel. Well done, Lisa. I’m looking forward to reading your memoir.
Truly a wonderful piece. I enjoyed every bit of it and you describe your experience so vividly I felt like I was right there in the room with you watching it all happen.
Your incredible writing and ability to articulate the details brought back so much so much of my experience in dance as a child and the transition from when it was fun to when it was training and competitive and designed to exclude. And the great sense this gives of your mom. Plus it made me think about the gorgeous dancer you were when I met you. A gift to read. Thank you and congratulations on the recognition.
Wow. I have so many thoughts and feelings about this. Embarrassing to say, the main one is disbelief you did things other than play with me! How strange life is. How much I wish no child would ever have to experience anything other than a loving, child-centric environment. Or adult. Such good work, the parsing of what makes us worthy and what is worthy of our lives. Thank you very much for the reflective.
I had the biggest smile on my face while reading this. Such a comforting and lively read!
Thank you so much for reading, Simone!
Congratulations, Lisa -- and thank you for sharing this beautiful story with the world.
Thank you so much, Brendan!
A gorgeous and honest essay. Maybe we’ve all been that little child coming face to face with a world that is hard and sometimes even cruel. Well done, Lisa. I’m looking forward to reading your memoir.
Thank you so much, Suzanne!
Lovely, beautiful story, wonderfully told. Thank you, Lisa!
Thank you for reading!
What a beautiful, well-written story.
Thank you!!
Good and nourishing read, reminding of long-ago, little girl perspectives…
Thank you so much, Nicole!
Wonderfully honest and beautifully written!
Thank you!!
Truly a wonderful piece. I enjoyed every bit of it and you describe your experience so vividly I felt like I was right there in the room with you watching it all happen.
Thank you so much for reading, Sariah!
This was absolutely adorable and compelling, I couldn’t stop reading 🩰
Thank you so much for reading, Frida!
Your incredible writing and ability to articulate the details brought back so much so much of my experience in dance as a child and the transition from when it was fun to when it was training and competitive and designed to exclude. And the great sense this gives of your mom. Plus it made me think about the gorgeous dancer you were when I met you. A gift to read. Thank you and congratulations on the recognition.
Thank you so very much, Leslie! (Ah, those Joffrey days …) Hugs!
Wow. I have so many thoughts and feelings about this. Embarrassing to say, the main one is disbelief you did things other than play with me! How strange life is. How much I wish no child would ever have to experience anything other than a loving, child-centric environment. Or adult. Such good work, the parsing of what makes us worthy and what is worthy of our lives. Thank you very much for the reflective.
Thank you for reading! I love your comment so much. You saw that I wanted to ask if you’d become “a professional kid” with me. :)
I think maybe you did ask me that and I didn’t understand.
Or maybe we just decided to "work on the robber!"
That is likely
A well-deserved award winner. Brava, Lisa!
Thank you!!
Great story. Some wonderfully honest and poignant details.
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