“Common sense would tell parents never to send their children to a ballet school. Common sense would tell teenagers that there is a wider and happier world beyond the grueling strictures of daily barre and class. Common sense would tell the graduating student that there are infinitely superior ways of making money than joining a professional ballet company. Common sense would tell a young dancer that very few (laughably few) of his or her colleagues will ever make it to the top or even near the top. Yet… there remains the dance and the dancer.”

To me, this quote embodies the true dedication and devotion of dancers. For some reason we strive for careers in an unbelievably competitive field that is also, and very unfortunately so, often the first to take the hit of budget cuts in this poor economy. For some reason we spend hour after hour after hour in the studio, turning down party invitations and staying home over spring break rather than going on vacation so that we can attend class and rehearsals. For some reason we ignore the daily aches and pains and continue to work hard no matter what. For some reason the excitement and joy of performing one weekend of shows makes four months of rehearsals worth it. The reason for all of these things is love, a true love and appreciation of the beauty of what we do. 

- Emma Yasick, Brandywine Ballet dancer and blogger