Dance Camp… for Adults
This Thanksgiving weekend, 175 performers took the stage in a Kat Wildish production. Crazy fact: Kat was once termed as having “unfortunate feet”. She was also told by a NYC ballerina as a little girl that she was lovely, but would never be a ballerina. Her response? “I’ll show you!”
Kat joined ABT and enjoyed a successful professional career. (Ah-ha!) It was with ABT that she discovered her other passion: teaching. “I was the only one to raise my hand to teach master classes. It’s so rewarding. The feeling of teaching is ageless.”
Kat’s been told she hosts a "fantasy camp for adults" because she gives them a chance to come back to their passion after they’ve left it long ago. Her program requires dedication. Grown ups rehearse once a week and make sacrifices just like professionals. (Like telling their boss they can’t do overtime that night!)
After the last show, a 37-year-old performer Facebooked, “I just performed ballet.” He posted the video and said, “My family didn’t let me take ballet. Now look!” For Kat, it’s so touching to see those childhood dreams fulfilled for middle aged adults.
During that same show, one guy’s shoe busted and he picked it up and walked off the stage. “I remembered to tell my students, you gotta keep going! And other things like, if you can see the audience, they can see you. All the details we learn as kids, adults must learn as well.”
What a wild ride. Kudos to Kat and hey, if you’re an adult, (ahem, readers over 30…) take her class and relive your passion. Remember, it doesn’t always have to be about the kids.
