Entered for Michael's #MBHigherDance! Contest. VOTE HERE: challenges.gigg.com/channel/m...
I do not own the rights to the song and this is for FUN!
Let me tell you a story of a girl who always wanted to ballroom dance, but held herself back.
“You know you have it, mmm”
I wanted this song for a Summer Showcase Performance this past July but when my instructors asked me if I wanted to do the showcase and if so, what song, I paused. I have imagined dancing to plenty of Michael Buble Songs, created choreography in my head while on walks & in the car daydreaming. But, when I was actually asked, I paused. Why? Because of fear. My inner voice comes up more than I wish and I hear, “I can’t do that. Who am I to actually think I can Ballroom dance and perform?” (Not helpful, but it’s there.)
That pause has come up for me over & over on this journey. I’ve faced those thoughts often before a lesson, competition or performance & had to learn how to own the thought & acknowledge it is “just a thought, and not real” & throw it out.
“You take a moment, make it magic, yeah”
Dance has become a place for me to take seemingly insignificant mundane moments & make them magic. This magic continues to surprise me with how it expands outside of dance. My Dad came to the local Madison Summer Showcase in July, hugged me & said, “it’s been so long since I’ve seen you dance, I got a little teary eyed.” That’s a magical moment I never expected to come from a song I loved. But this unexpected moment of magic inspired me to keep changing my silly little voice in my head to start saying more, “You know you have it, you CAN take a moment & make it magic, if I choose to step into that possibility.”
“Because when you go low, and I get higher
When you move that slow, it lights my fire
I might be falling for ya, I don't know (high)
I think it might be what you came here for (whoa)
When you go low, and I get higher
When you move that slow, it lights my fire
I'm at attention, I ain't got no shame (high)
No inhibition, I'm just glad you came (whoa)”
No matter how many times I wanted to cry, get frustrated for not getting the steps fast enough, go red in the face because I’m mad or embarrassed, & worry about how I look when I dance or what others think, I see now that dance was exactly what I needed to overcome myself. I have a love affair with dance & all the emotions that come with any relationship. The negative thoughts happen, & I get to choose to go higher. I’ll go a little slower, learn the steps, & breathe belief into myself. Light my own fire by overcoming myself, again & again. I didn’t know that is what I came to dance for, but I believe Dance knew it. I’m paying attention now. No shame. I’m a girl who still needs to build up my own inner belief in herself, regardless of the outcome. It’s been a struggle for me. Yet, I’d have no inhibition once I realized I wanted to let go of self-doubt & my old energy because the magical moment of possibilities outweighed that fear finally. I still I kick myself some moments for writing this, But I’m loving the magic that is expanding the more I ground into my body, my heart & own who I am.
“Take a step into the light and flaunt it
Leavin' everybody brokenhearted
God, it's a sauna, so hot
The way you slide across the floor
I think you know
That I'm only gonna beg for more”
Sorry Michael, the sauna was just too hot & we had to cut that part out to keep it classy like my favorite woman, Audrey Hepburn. (Kidding, the showcase performance had to be 2 minutes, so we had to cut it & I wanted to keep this light & laugh too.)
“Stuck in this game you've started
Don't leave me broken hearted
'Cause I've got nothing left to lose (whoa)”
I’d be lying if I told you I mastered this “believing in myself” or overcoming self-doubt, and the unhelpful thoughts inside my head. I haven’t. Even with this submission, I’ve had the same thoughts of “What is everyone gonna think of this wanna-be dancer video? Why did she go so big and film it with the capital in the background? You know, she is not even that good.” But I’m learning the habit of stepping into higher thoughts of “you know have it Katy Jane, let’s choose to take the moment and make it magic”. If I forget how to step into the magic, I bring it back to the chorus because...
This is what I came here for: learning the process of stepping into any moment and making it magic. I’m definitely not perfect at it. As much as I might roll my eyes, just like I do in lessons when I know I messed up and can do so much better, I’ll beg for more dance in my life. I’ll risk sliding across any floor or falling on a rooftop to take moments and make them magic. Because I’ve got nothing left to lose.