It is hard to find enough words to express how I feel about Arthur Murray Dance Studio of Plano. Though most people who meet me presently wouldn't believe it, I was a lost and broken soul before I stepped through those doors.
Transporting us back in time you would see before you the sad, lonely, scared, depressed, and shyest girl of fifteen you would ever likely meet. You could say that within the studio walls I had a rebirth into a greater life than I imagined for myself. Like Cosette wandering alone in the woods waiting for my Valjean to come and save me. I was an ice skater before I started dancing. But, the truth of it is that I had the heart for it, but not the technique. In the skating world I was the butt of every joke not only because of being bad at skating, but also because I was more interested in books than boys. Also, I had to constantly live up to my younger sister's stardom and my dad being a judge. Arthur Murray was the first chance in life to be able to excel at something that was not about being smart. It let me combine my theater training and love of performing on a platform that welcomed me with open arms. The dancing helped me see that I was worth something and that being myself was okay. It became my sanctuary and a second family for whom I could come to whenever life was too rough to cope. My self confidence grew to the point that I was no longer scared of those around me. Also, within the first few months I no longer required anti-depressants.
Although I have been talking about the changes that happened from within, a lot of changes occured on the outside as well. When I started dancing I was 140 pounds and wore a size 13 in juniors. Today I am between 110 and 120 pounds and a size 4-6. I began to wear make-up and my taste in clothes also changed dramatically. I cannot imagine who or where I would be if the studio had not come into my life.
Dancing is truly the one thing that changed my life. Without it I do not think I would be the same person that I am today. However, I beleive it is the people in the dance studio who attributed to making the changes permanent. I could not imagine my life without any of them. Each person in their own way has guided me on different stages of my life and sculpted me into the person I have become. Essentially, that are what helped me go from that awkward teen to the woman I am today. I hope that every person has a similar event to help them change for the better, because the world could do with some more outstanding people like those I have met at Arthur Murray.