Growing Hair…
Originally, that decision was part of an exploration to be part of a dance program, which made that decision philosophically intriguing, at least for me. It seemed like long hair was part of becoming a dancer. What does that have to do with becoming a dancer? Exactly that’s the question I’ve been asking myself over the last few days! It seems that most female dancers have long hair. Hair is even sometimes part of a dance. Having studied stereotypes extensively, I am asking myself if I am simply buying into a stereotype: Real women dancers have long hair – or turned around, unless I have long hair I am not a real dancer.
That brings up all of my self-doubt around becoming a dancer in my mid-40s: Can I even do that? Am I just being presumptuous claiming that I am becoming a dancer, which implies that at some point, I will be a dancer? Aren’t dancers young, skinny women with fantastic posture? Talk about stereotypes 😉
So, I plug along despite these doubts, pin my hair up as best as I can, and practice dancing…
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This is a weird question, but have you ever lived in Lompoc, CA?
No, I haven’t. Why are you asking?
I’ve been looking for a very dear friend of mine named Rachel Rabe. I used to work with her at Sizzler in Lompoc, but we lost touch over the years. When I googled her name, your blog came up, so I thought it might be her
Thanks for sharing your story! No, it’s not me… My last name isn’t Rabe (that’s my initials…). Good luck finding your friend!
Thank you so much!! 🙂
one more thing: you’re not ‘becoming a dancer’…….you ARE a dancer and expressing through dance who you are……..no certificates needed for that…..
Thanks, Shira, for pointing this out! I realized that I am not a performance dancer. I am a folk dancer – and that is actually the kind of dancer I want to be. Not on stage for the “look at me” display but being part of the tribe.
our hair styles, almost like clothes, are statements and messages about ourselves, our moods, our preferences.
if it doesn’t feel worth the messy-hair interlude waiting for it to grow in, why not go back and stay with your comfortable short style?!
if you’d be happier staying short-haired, why bother with unruly hair?!
today, it’s not only females who prefer long hair……….we have all those infinite choices to feel empowered, but so often they pressure and stress us more than if we’d had none!! ……..you’re not alone in grappling with this modern kaleidoscope of possibilities…………a myriad of hats and wigs are also available and used by those who revel in that world.
it’s your expression of yourself! i’m all for your doing whatever your heart desires!!
Well, it’s one big experiment… I want to see how I look like with longer hair 🙂 and, it’s my habit, I examine the process “out loud,” if you want, here on my blog…