Hi! When I was a young girl I took classical ballet lessons from a mean old Russian woman who was soooo strict. She always carried a stick and hit us when we were not performing perfectly! But she was the best of the best (so my mom said) and I fell deeply in love with dance. When I was fifteen (the summer I turned 16) I went to live in Seattle, WA, and studied dance at Cornish School of Fine Arts. I lived and breathed ballet as I was grooming for a Dance Company in Vancouver, Canada. Yes, I was serious and very good, but something else happened during that summer that made me look at my future and make a life changing decision. I had discovered BOYS! Sweet 16………a job, car, skiing, and boys! So I put my ballet in the background, decided to become a nurse, and went on to take jazz dance lessons and WOW was that fun! Yup!
While I was in my last years of college I started dancing at Bellevue College and became serious again. I was asked to audition and join their Dance Company, which was a dream come true! But once again I had to make another life altering decision………..marriage or dance? My wedding date fell on the one day I was to audition. Once in a life time! Well, I got married, moved out-of-town, and had two beautiful babies.
I eventually moved back and when my kids were toddlers I went back to dancing at the same college and decided once again to audition and join their Dance Company. I wasn’t TOO old! Then another life turning event happened I wasn’t expecting………..I got sick. I knew something was wrong when I couldn’t do my turns without losing my balance and falling! I was eventually diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I not only had to quit my dance but ALSO my nursing career ended abruptly!
Years went by and something wonderful happened! My son, Ryan, who is a complete and total computer geek his entire life (that’s what he graduated in!) become an accomplished and professional modern dancer! He got into it during college and now is a member of the Momentum Dance Company in Anchorage, AK. And he is GOOD like his mom! This is the kid who used to make fun of me when I danced in the kitchen and BEG me to stop (and now I’m laughing at him)!! He will be performing this Friday & Saturday at the Performing Arts Center in Anchorage and I can’t wait! You should come too!
Ryan Nixon
Funny how some things work out, don’t you think?
P.S. One thing is for sure, I will never stop dancing through life!
“Dance like no one is watching”!
♥ Donna
