How Relevant

It ends how it began…

The pictures up top symbolize two things. One, my first performance experience on a team in Jersey, and two my final team I’ll be performing with from/in Jersey.

My first experiences performing on a team in Jersey was with the Colts Neck High School step team where I was captain alongside my good friend Niki (god bless her soul for calling me a captain being it was my first year stepping in general x_x). My first performance on a stage is pictured above at Colts Neck High School’s Night at the Apollo presented by Colts Neck Step Team. It was the best year of high school I’ve ever had. It was my senior year, it was my first and last year on step team, and we won first place at the competition we competed at against hella schools in the area. I love em. Memorable experience and amazing memories. RIP Andre Mckelvia Jr my brother.

My final performance on UFPx is next week. Ironically, its on the same stage I first started dancing on, Colts Neck High School’s auditorium. I really can’t believe this is gonna be my (maybe) last performance on a Jersey team. I really am humbled to say the least. Like I’m literally at a loss for words right now because I have no idea what to say about this. I’m just happy I’m sharing this stage with the people I whole heartedly love. From beginning to end.

UFPx I love you all to death. I can’t believe this may potentially be the last time I perform with all of you. You guys mean the world to me and honestly, I haven’t had more fun on a team. Each one of you inspires me as well as anyone else who watches us or comes into contact with us. We’ve grown together so close as a family and all i can think about is feelings whenever I think about us as a family. I love you all like crazy. Lets Kill it next week and show them what us “Hip-hoppers” are made of *makes white man strong arm gesture*. We didn’t win first and third for nothing, lets really show em we’re as good as that trophy says we are.

Directors I cannot thank you guys enough for the oppurtunity of being on this team in general. Thank you for seeing the potential and how hard I’ve worked to be on this team. It seriously is a dream come true to train under you guys and to perform your choreography. I am honored to have been a part of UFPx. You guys really made me feel like I was worth it. Like I meant something to the team. I know for a fact i still have a long way to go, but you guys make my goal seem so much closer and you’re all truly huge inspirations for that. Thank you so much for giving me the chance to perform with this wonderful team and represent this company.

Moving on…..

So I guess by now its no secret. I’m going to be attending school at LIM over in Manhattan in the fall. Its no secret I’m more than excited to be leaving Jersey to move back to New York. Its what I wanted more than anything else in the world. However, I’m torn for the fact that I have no idea what’s going to happen with me in the dance world. As many of you would guess, I do not want to leave UFP/UFPx. It tears me up inside just thinking about it. Ever since I started on Fr3sh Freestyle, AIM has been like a home to me. Its one of the places where I truly do feel comfortable.  So of course I don’t want to leave UFP. Other problems have risen up from me dorming in Manhattan. I highly doubt I will be able to stay on UFP in a financial sense. Paying for the commute as well as tuition is crazy as is. Me working and getting a job in the city is all up in the air. That being said everything is so unsure and uncertain.

After all this craziness in my head, I stopped took a breather and really thought about it. I talked to a good friend of mine from another dance team for a perspective and he has told me his experience. He basically put everything in perspective for me and reminded me why I dance in the first place. As much as I love my team, its not all about them. Yes I love them as if they were my own flesh and blood, and I could never let them go, but this dance path is for me to decide. He ended our conversation with “A closed mouth doesn’t get fed, a closed mind doesn’t learn”. 

I thought long and hard about that and it brought me to the realization that I need a fresh start with everything. My life in jersey has been a whole crazy ass mess. From school, to relationships, to “friendships”, to dance. Everything has been all over the place and what I really need is a refreshing new environment to train in. With new faces and personalities. With new mentalities. Nothings wrong with the old, but how will you know about the new, if you don’t even try it. I’ve had my taste of jersey, and I am more than honored to have trained and performed on one of the most elite teams in the East Coast, but now I think is the time for me to try something totally new. Regardless, we all know I’ll be around BDC like crazy and training all over the city. Other plans are around and unfolding in my head but I’d rather not reveal them just yet, those closest to me already know what my plans are and I’ll let time speak for itself.

Thank you everyone for such an amazing season in dance. It truly was unforgettable.

DANCElife