Out of frustration comes inspiration

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."  Eleanor Roosevelt.  

This has been my mantra for about three weeks now.  My guiding light as I continue my quest to inspire women to come back to the dance studio and dance.  

This weekend proved to be particularly challenging as a friend of mine recorded "Shark Tank" and we watched it together.  For those of you unfamiliar with this show, entrepreneurs pitch potential investors.  The investors usually want a good hunk of the company and in return the entrepreneur's company can take off.  This particular episode featured Billy Blanks Jr. pitching his dance fitness company, "Dance with Me."  Unlike Zumba, Billy explained it included all styles.  They invested and as it turns out, Zumba is behind the investor and will distribute Billy's product and market his certification weekends.  

Yippee, hooray for Billy!  

This was frustrating to me and I couldn't figure out why, at first.   Was it because they invested in him and not me?  No, not really.  I'm a dancer, dance teacher, mother of five, living in Stowe Vermont - not quite Billy Blanks Jr.  Was it because he was insisting he was not Zumba just like I do?  Did I see a little of me in him?  Was he being prideful?  Am I being prideful?  Should I sell out and just make my choreography easy?  I pondered all of these questions. 

It turns out, I'm frustrated because it's going to take me some time.  In fairness to Billy, it's taken him some time too.  I've watched his dance fitness class change names over the years and he has stuck with it.   And so will I.   

I am a dance teacher.  I love to dance.  I love to teach dance.  I love telling people about Phusia so they too can share their passion in a new way.  I love the women who come to class and want more than just an hour of sweating.  They want to learn, to be inspired, to dance again.  Do I want lots of people to experience it?  Of course, but only because they have a passion for dance, not because it's the latest in fitness.   Is fitness part of my world?  Yes.  But I'm a dancer first.   

Phusia is a dance class first.  I'm proud of this.  Not in a prideful way proud, but proud that I get to teach dance every week (lots of times).  It's what I studied  in college and I LOVE it.  Am I bummed that Billy Blanks Jr. will make the millions he deserves?  No.  Am I bummed that it's going to take some time?  A little.   I want to change the world.  I want to inspire women to dance again and the gym isn't the place.  The dance studio is the place where dance teachers with all of their years of training and hard work can be honored.  Where classes can stand on their own and not be grouped in with a membership.   We've worked too hard ladies. 

I've been teaching a new routine this past week.  It's so much fun.   Nothing gives me more pleasure than to see my students get it.  They are patient with themselves and excited to learn.   The concentrated looks turn into smiles.   So for now, my class will continue to inspire me and I'll get to the world next.