Dancing Historias #3 ~ THE MARKETPLACE
We meet again. This time we are not going to the dance studio. I think we both need a breather from that environment, don’t you ?
Let’s go to the marketplace!
This story starts with a coffee! A great way to start any story I would say as a still avid coffee lover. My love of coffee started very young (13 to be exact) when I wanted to bond with my mum and be considered a grown up.
So fast forward a little while past my fainting revelation, I was 16, almost 17 and in year 12 at school. Things had changed for me since that fainting moment. I had channeled all of my crazy determination into “renovating” my food diary. Instead of a berating self reflection of the calories I consumed each day it was a DIY love your body and eat more calories diary. I documented how I was feeling, what I was eating, and gave myself positive feedback when I reached my food quota for the day, or when I could stomach something heavy without throwing up.
I had also started learning new dance styles. I joined the Jazz and contemporary ensemble at my high school, did some competitions, found a love for lyrical and contemporary dance and picked up dance as an elective for my final years.
I was “finding myself” as a “woman” too, or so I thought. Sitting here 10 years later that statement feels laughable.
Anyway, back to the market. I was at the organic markets with mum drinking some coffee, and I said loudly “Maybe I should have another one so I can stunt my growth.” A beautiful and very tall woman was sitting right by us and turned to me and asked
“Why would a beautiful girl like you want to stunt your growth?”
I told her flat out that I wanted to be a ballerina and I was getting way too tall, so all I needed to do was stunt my growth so I could pursue my dreams.
She smiled at me in a very “knowing” sort of a way. “I was a dancer,” she said. I did not believe her. She was so tall, how could she be a dancer. My mum spun around intrigue, what kind of dancer were you ?
“I used to dance in France” She said
“At the moulin rouge, I was a showgirl. You are beautiful and tall, you could be a showgirl.”
I couldn't believe it ! France! Moulin Rouge! Show Girl! I had pretty much no idea what all of that meant, but that night I began looking up everything I could find about it. I watched the movie “The Moulin rouge”, and looked up all of the famous showgirl spots in Pairs. The Lido, The crazy horse, The Moulin Rouge. I was instantly hooked! The colours, the beauty, the freedom, the extravagance! It blew me away.
And just like that my dreams took a sharp pivot once again !
Now this was a big moment, if stories have threads, which I believe they do, this one had many many threads!
I’m going to leave you there with your coffee, but don’t wait too long, things are getting exciting
Remember, things can always change “just like that.” And the universe is always speaking to you, try to listen well before she has to start yelling again
Dream big, and listen well.
~ Genevieve Rogan 15/4/2020
Genevieve is a kizomba teacher, dancing medicine healer and women’s embodiment guide. Her journey through life with dance as her biggest teacher has seen her create the souldance methodology of teaching to allow her students to connect with their highest wisdom through dance. To stay updated on her online offerings stay connected through her website and social media platforms
Website ~ www.dancingchange.com
FB~ Genevieve Rogan DancingChange
Insta ~ @Genevieve.dancingchange
2020, reliving the Moulin feeling photo Sydney dance photography