Growing up since the ages of 4 and 6 in a competitive dance studio atmosphere we were taught to live and breathe dance and nothing was more important. We were worked and rehearsed almost everyday with no spare time to allow anything else in our lives.
My parents chose this lifestyle for us so we could enjoy learning how to dance and perform and become great at something we loved and to build confidence and to be part of a team. They didn’t realize that at this particular facility, along with the strict discipline and work ethic and along with the challenge and dedication required, which are all positive things, came a constant fear of rejection and failure and the pressure to conform having no freedom to be who you are.
Students and their parents were manipulated and manoeuvred. Friendships and relationships were toyed with. Families wouldn’t hesitate to turn against their friends listening to rumors, that were constantly being spread because everyone lived in constant insecurity and never knew who they could trust. We both endured the painful verbal abuse from people we considered our friends and at one point a classmate took it a step further and began physically bullying one of us in dance class. So many nights the tears flowed and trying to understand “why” was a struggle. Although we were fortunate to possess some talent, we were hard working girls, came from a very supportive family, did well in school and were respectful and supportive of others. We were also very committed and contributed to making the dance studio look good along with many other dancers.
As we worked harder and grew stronger in our ability we thought perhaps then the bullying would stop but it still didn’t stop. Being a victim of bullying wasn’t just for the overweight kid or kid with the big glasses or people that were considered to be losers. We were victims of bullying every time we won something.
My father always told us that it is not our responsibility to appear less than what we are to make others feel more comfortable but to be who we are and people will just need to adapt. “If you have been given a gift it is your responsibility to use it”, so in spite of everything negative…. and there was a lot…. we always focused on the positive things that were provided, which was taking endless hours of dance class, working very hard, listening to our instructors while rehearsing and doing our best to express choreography that we were given.
Around the age of 10 & 12 we wanted to take voice lessons and needed to go somewhere else as voice was not offered where we were dancing. Since it was not part of their curriculum we had to practically do it in secret to avoid the stress of any conflict of scheduling which the instructor was apt to do purposely in order to maintain a tight reign on any other activities we wanted to participate in. All we wanted to do was dance and sing!! Why were others making that so difficult to enjoy!
Throughout this journey we grew into strong dancers and singers. We were consistently successful at competitions and winning scholarships at many events, and all the while, without anyone ever really knowing, enduring a constant battle to be accepted not only by fellow dancers and school classmates but by teachers at dance and at school. School classmates felt we were snobs thinking we thought we were better than them because we didn’t have time to hang out. Some school teachers would think it was acceptable to humiliate us in front of the class if our homework wasn’t done on time because we were at a 4 day dance competition, job auditions and shoots, or preparing for a show. Dance friends would be upset if we beat them in a competition or won the scholarship at a workshop and dance instructors felt the need to control us, our parents, our friends and our time. I wish we could say that we grew numb to it, but we never did.
One day several years into our training, according to my parents, a line was definitely crossed and the consequence was that we were pulled from our dance studio of over 10 years. We changed the place, reassessed and evaluated our needs and desires and my mother went on a mission to continue our performing arts education on her own. We continued working with our ballet teacher of 10 years who we always loved and adored along with many new extraordinary positive educators and choreographers who helped us to really search deep inside ourselves to find out who we were and what we wanted. We took class, attended workshops and competitions and performed for the pure joy and love of it! We felt free for the first time and we were thriving!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FN3AUWCsvxI
As time went on we knew we were on the right track. We were not only seeing great results from our training but we also loved working with our instructors and performing took on a whole new meaning. We were discovering our desires and realizing that performing has always been our passion. We have always loved to perform for an audience! Sadly however, the bullying never completely went away. It just became more underhanded and creative. Secretly and quietly we continued to endure the insensitive, inconsiderate, inappropriate and sometimes cruel behaviour of others, sometimes to our face but mostly behind our back, as we pursued our dream. The stronger we pursued our dream, the more it seemed certain people were intent on making sure we did not get there. We are so fortunate to have had enough positive influences in our lives to keep us focused, determined, and to not succumb to the pressure of trying to be accepted by individuals who after all did not really have our best intentions in mind. Working alongside as sisters has been the biggest blessing. Together we endure the good times and the difficult times and are always there for each other. We encourage each other and push each other. We can turn tears and frustration into laughter and high fives. By the time we are done building each other up after every negative situation we feel unstoppable!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ugkanwKzHE
When we first began to write music, our very first single “Dance It Away” speaks about exactly that… “Dancing all your troubles away” the lyrics of this song flowed easily and is close to our hearts. People endure so much in their lives and everyone needs an outlet, ours was dancing, that is where we found our calm and our place of joy to recharge and begin again.
Find us at: http://www.high-diamond.com
