You Know You're a True Dance Instructor When...

Tell tale signs that you have crossed from teaching a few dance classes, to being a full-on dance coach/instructor/administrator:

• More than 50% of your wardrobe is black - you can just grab black clothes and know they will match, you wear black at the studio a lot, and you go out in a lot of black. Don't get me wrong - I love color and wear a variety of clothes...but man, I own a lot of black! It's just a staple in the dance world.
  
• "Shower" is actually an item on your to do list because you're so busy that you don't want to forget.
  
• Pedicures aren't only a thing of luxury but necessity...(shhh, I love this one).
• You frequently assess songs and costumes to see if they will work into "next year's" show because this season is already moving ahead so quickly.
• UNNOFICIAL THERAPIST could really be your job title; from the students to the parents you are in the know, and you're their sounding board for life.
• Smiling, graciousness, and strait-forward honesty are arts that you have mastered.
  
• The covers finally get pulled over your tired body, and all you can think about is another two 8-counts of choreo for class this week and how great it's going to look with an extra kick-ball-change.
• False lashes are second nature on stage.
  
• While ordering costumes and accessories for your girls you think "Oh! I should get one of those for myself too...and that, and this...oh and these earings - totally practical!"
• Student's well-being and growth on the dance floor matters more than the hourly pay...so much that you'll forfeit the final pennies to see him or her progress to the next level.
  
• Dance is a way of life instead of an afternoon job.
• Throwing up a perfect bun has been crafted down to less than 30 seconds.
  
• Around the holidays you receive (and appreciate) a bounty of Starbuck's gift cards, hand lotions, chocolate and by-hand-crayon illustrations of a stick version of yourself with stick-eye-lashes holding the hand of a miniature version of you labeled "You and Me." (I love those.)
• You sometimes "over" dress when going out because you're almost rebounding from wearing sweats all week...and you LOVE LOVE LOVE shoes.
  
• 3 staple hairstyles are in your repertoire to wear during classes because you know it won't fly in your face - when you stray from these styles as a mark of personal variety, you soon regret it because, of course, it ends up in the way.
• Lip gloss is always at hand.
  
• Even though you own more music/cd's/downloads than any average person, you're always looking for new stuff! :)
  
• You believe that you never stop learning.
• Bobby pins; enough said there.