This week we have a friend who is taking a big step forward in her life (as are her parents)!  Amanda Gallaway is heading to Ballet West in Salt Lake City, UT, for ballet training!  She leaves Friday and won't be heading to typical high school like her friends will be next week.  She will be training 6 days a week to be a ballerina.  Amanda started dancing when she was three years old at the local dance studio.  I have been honored to be able to watch her dance since then.  Those of you that know me, know that my daughter is a dancer and grew up in the same studios as Amanda did.  Aanika is a few years older than Amanda, but they were always close.  In the picture below, you see Aanika as Alice in Wonderland and Amanda as the mouse.  In the Tea Party Scene they got to be silly and had a great time with the choreography and acting that went along with this part of the show.  Ever since that experience, they have been side by side in the dance world, arm in arm, hand in hand.  They both had big dreams and nothing was going to stand in their way.

Aanika as Alice, Amanda as the mouse in "The Adventures of Alice" Approx. January of 2013

Amanda has done the right things to be ready for this part of her dance journey.  She attended Summer Dance Lab on the Whitman College campus for 2 years, five week summer intensives each time.  Then she went to Theater Arts Preparatory School in Las Vegas, Nevada, for their summer intensive held at the The Rock Studio.  She and Aanika did that summer together - and they had so much fun, together again! Then, Amanda went to Nashville for a 5 week intensive the following summer with Nashville Ballet and then this past summer, she was in Orlando, FL, for five weeks with Orlando Ballet.  She auditioned for many programs, and decided on the Ballet West program in SLC for this school year.  She will be doing some online classes to complete her high school diploma.  She gets to walk with her classmates next spring.  That was important to her and we are so glad she gets to do that! Most importantly, she will be training to be a ballerina!

Amanda Gallaway pictured

We always laughed (and sometimes cried), as a dancer's schedule often precluded typical middle school and high school aged activities.  Aanika would be asked to do stuff with her friends, and her response was usually, "I can't, I have dance." Eventually, those requests become fewer and fewer, and non-dance friends tend to give up.  So, the dance friends and the dance community around those dancers, becomes super important.  They become one of the BIGGEST parts of a dancer's life and world.  Aanika and Amanda would talk about these experiences that were happening outside of dance, and I know Rachel, Amanda's mom, and I would also chat about them.  Often, it felt pretty sad and lonely for the girls.  So, when going through these episodes there has to be a support system both as the dancer and as her parent. Amanda and Aanika would support each other and talk, and Rachel and I would do the same. Thanks God for the Gallaways!

Amanda Gallaway, pictured

I remember loving dancing when I was young.  I would have given anything to be a part of the dance world.  However, rural North Dakota didn't have many dance studios to enjoy.  The way I got to experience dance was with my siblings and our close friends.  We would have dance competitions in our living room when we got together.  The Bay City Rollers, ABBA, Heart, ELO, Styx, and whatever else we could get our hands on would be played on the record player and we would all take our turn to dance our little butts off to the beat.  I had no idea was a fouette, picque, tendu, battement, or pirouette were, but I knew I was having the time of my life when I was dancing - and that I was happy when I was doing it.  Funny thing is now, when I am feeling down as an adult, I can turn on my favorite music, dance to myself or with my cute hubby, and all the sudden the troubles of life feel a whole lot better.  I can understand why dance is so important and such a drive to these young people.  They understand what it does for them physically and mentally.  It's healthy and makes you happy.  It doesn't get better than that.

Aanika Swant & best friend and fellow Vegas Viva, Chesney Taylor, at the Stanley Cup Parade in Las Vegas, NV, for the Vegas Golden Knights, after they won the Stanley Cup this past June.  

So, when Amanda (and Aanika too) were asked what their back up plan was, their response was always, "I'm going to dance." Period. End of Story. No other option.

Aanika is now living her professional dance life as a Vegas Viva.  The Vivas are the professional dancers that cheer for the Vegas Golden Knights, the professioal hockey team based out of Las Vegas.  Aanika is going to continue this journey this year as a 2nd year Viva member. She attended Pro Action Dance, a dance convention for professional and collegiate dance teams this past summer and represented the Vegas Vivas there.  The previous season ended in late June. Try outs for the Vivas were in July, dance camp for the beginning of their season was two weekends ago, two weekends before was P.A.D., she dances two long rehearsals each week and some weeks there are two or three games during the week.  She heads to T-Mobile Stadium anywhere from 1 to 3 and gets home after 11.  They are long days, but she loves them. Hockey is a long season - but it was worth it when she got to see the team win it ALL!

Amanda will be dancing 6 days a week, 6 plus hours most days, and she will love it.  There will be pain, and sweat, and possibly a few tears even.  But when Amanda gets to dance on the stage and perform, the sweat and tears and long journey will be forgotten.  All she will think about is the joy and happiness she feels doing her favorite thing!  

Way to go Amanda!  We love you and we couldn't be happier for you!  We are so glad you didn't have a back up plan! Those of you that have young dancers, let them dance. Even if they don't do it professionally, there are many life lessons taught.  And you will probably meet some friends that will be your buddies or life.  Just ask Aanika and Amanda!!