~ Written by Danielle Lee-Hogervorst, Outreach Coordinator at Ballegro Player, Dancer at Arts Umbrella’s Graduate Program

I took my first ballet class at 2.5 years old - a mother-daughter class - and have never stopped since.  Currently training at Arts Umbrella in their Graduate Program, I partake in the study of ballet 6 days a week. It is a never-ending practise.  One where you are constantly striving to be better than you were yesterday. One where you feel like you have gotten progressively worse since last week, but you nevertheless continue to show up everyday to persevere and challenge yourself, because you have a vision of what you can and hope to achieve.  One where you discover something new about your body, mind, relationship to others in space and time everyday.

 But is this practise and strife for consistency and possibly perfection giving us, as aspiring and professional dancers, everything we need to succeed in the 21st century dance world?...

Mama, I love you
Mama, I care
Mama, I love you
Mama, my friend
You're my friend

Mama is a song by the British girl group the Spice Girls.

On Sunday, 13th of May, we are celebrating our amazing moms. They wash your clothes, cook your food and look after you when you need them. But what makes your mom a dance mom?

These 5 things will show if your mom is a dance mom or even if YOU are one of them.

1. You know how to do the perfect ballet bun and have bobby pins all over your house. Sometimes, you even find them in the corners of your couch.
   
   
   
2. It all started with one visit at the dance studio, and now, it is your second home. You know everyone at the dance studio and even take dance classes yourself now. To be a good example, you even think of belly button, point your toes and straight your leg in a good, rotated, turned-out first position.
   
   
3. Also, when you see your child nail the choreography you burst out with a big ‘YEAH!’ and want to run in the room to cheer them. 
   
   
   
   
4. All...