CarrieMadsen

Dance as much as possible for as long as possible

Dance is something I have always done.  Not formally- anytime, anywhere.   My bedroom, my parent's living room and my friend's houses-- these were where I made up dances and performed them pulling in others to participate.  It was just who I was.  

Over the years I performed in over 100 full length musicals. As an adult I choreographed over 150 full length musicals plus entertainment segments for fashion shows and benefits.  I established and ran the dance department for a girl's high school for 5 years.  The program served a variety of levels and gave each dancer multiple opportunities to learn and perform.

It was just what I did.  

​I took a long break from dance & choreography but lately find myself wanting to go back to where I started-- dancing for fun, for the love of it, and getting other people to do it with me.  Because it's never failed to be a really good time.

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When I was making regular trips to New York in the early 2000's I would take classes with Luigi.   He was over 70 and teaching 2 classes a day 5 days a week and I remember thinking  "I want to be like that." 

 ​I have had conversations with too many people who used to dance who tell me they can't go back to it for many different reasons.  I hate seeing their longing and defeat and wish they had a place where they felt comfortable getting back into it again.  ​

I have met so many performers over the years who have been told they can't dance (!) or just believe they aren't coordinated-- I have seen them find their feet and get to experience the joy of dancing.  It's so awesome!​

I have so many friends who are brilliant creatives and performers who now have families, or are caregivers, or work full time jobs, and they can't commit to rehearsal and show schedules any more but they miss using their bodies to tell a story.​

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So I ask myself-- what if I combined who I am and what I do and provide the time and place for all these people to come and dance? It sounds thrilling!

 I believe that dance is for EVERY-body and we should all do it as much as possible for as long as possible.