In the world of dance and photography, where each movement tells a story and every frame captures a moment of artistic expression, I have been privileged to find myself a little corner where I can fully call myself a Topeka Dance Photographer.
The Early Days
My journey with dance began in childhood. I had a very humble start with tap and ballet lessons, taking lessons in the instructor’s basement. My humble start was basically a struggle to grasp the steps. Practice didn’t seem to help. I would watch my friend’s feet, trying to mimic her, and act like I knew what I was doing. I just could not memorize the steps, no matter what I did. But that didn’t mean I wasn’t fascinated with the teacher’s fluid movements. Oh, I was enthralled with dance.
I wanted to add jazz lessons, so bad. My parents said I had to get better at tap and ballet, but I was sure if I was allowed to take jazz, I could be good. I dreamt of being on stage. And I just couldn’t. Eventually, after trying out for a competition team and realized I had no coordination at all, and I quit.
Becoming a Dance Mom
Fast forward about 20 years (okay it may have been longer but that isn’t the point). My daughter loved dance from the time she could talk. I am pretty sure she still dances in her room, with no one watching… She was a natural, unlike myself. She could pick up a dance and know every step and every turn in just seconds. Honestly, it was really uncanny. I spent years in a dance studio watching her and she eventually became a competition dancer. We spent full weekends watching her dance at competitions.
At first, I was resistant to all the makeup, costumes, fake eyelashes, dance mom kits… all of it. Around this time, the TV show “Dance Moms” was popular and I did not want to be associated with people who acted like that. But eventually, I became good at getting her ready and gave into the music, the costumes and the fun. In those days, I could do a mean dance bun. Fake eyelashes though… I maybe was never got good at that. I think for the most part she got good at doing that one by herself.
My daughter eventually stopped and we got busy with other things. I never realized I would miss it.
Topeka Dance Photographer and a Merging of Art
Fast forward another few, unnamed number of years. I collaborated with Establish Dance School, a small local dance studio to do their dance photography. I didn’t realize I would have so much fun taking their pictures, hanging with the little dancers, going over poses and watching the pure SASS these dancers had. When I was done with the individual and group pictures, I went out to photograph and watch the recital. It was short and after the last song, I put away my camera. Ohhh… that was the wrong move. All 42 of those dancers ran up to their one instructor and gave her a big huge group hug. Missing this image haunted me for that whole year. You can bet your bottom dollar, I didn’t miss that one again!
Dance, Dance and More Dance
That was how dance started for me. In February of 2023, I started working with several other dance studios. I became obsessed with following photographers who shot dance studios. Instagram is a great source of inspiration for ideas. There is a wealth of knowledge available to everyone who is willing to look. I came up with neat ideas to keep the dancers engaged. I devoured everything I could on the subject.
At one of my schools, I remember watching the instructor get on the floor and stretch while working with the students. It was at that moment that I realized I may not be good at dance, but I wholy missed dance. Why do I have to be a dancer to randomly sit on the floor and stretch at work?
My Biggest Challenge as a Topeka Dance Photographer
My biggest challenge came when in May of 2023. I photographed over 180 kids and immediately upon trying to upload the images to a hard drive, my computer crashed. I had only four weeks to get those images delivered. To make matters worse, I was photographing a wedding the following week. Not even kidding, I also had a vacation planned for immediately following the wedding. It was a crazy minute in time which left me stronger than before and prepared for anything.
If you are a fellow lover of dance, whether a dancer, a photographer, or both, the advice is simple—embrace what you love. If you know me, you know I am a dreamer at heart. My path, and yours, is a journey worth undertaking. I will always tell you to follow your heart, because this is how we level up and how we find our place. So don’t wait, don’t stay stuck… follow your heart.
