Author: Corrine Robinson, MAGIC Instructor
Where Did I Start?
At the age of four, I started doing lots of various after school activities, but it was dance that captured my heart and at eight I zeroed into making myself the best dancer at my small studio for the next 10 years. I had discovered the one thing that gave me a place to breath and feel “normal”. I studied all styles of dance and went to competitions around the state. I knew that dance would forever be the place I felt the most comfortable with me.
For me teaching was always something I have been drawn to since a young age, however I never knew what I could offer youth in terms of academics would be quite lacking. As I was not what most would call a “good” student. I fell behind in most all subjects, my writing was two years behind all my fellow classmates, and my reading level was three behind. To say the least, I did not have it easy, and I felt I was not only getting failing grades but failing myself. In my sophomore year of high school I was given the greatest news I could ever hope for and I was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). To me, this meant I wasn’t failing or dumb, but I just have unique way of learning and could improve if I work with myself, and not against my brain’s special abilities.
Adulting
Oddly enough, I did not enter college with the mindset of dancing for a degree, it was in my second year that I realized how much I missed and needed dance in my life. Then, it was not until my third year of college that I decided that I wanted to pursue teaching dance. Once deciding this, I set my goals to graduate from the Dance Department at my university. I knew that I wanted to give other kids the same safe space I had growing up (and with no homework). If I could be that safe place or person to even one person that would to me mean more than earning a giant salary.
Although I knew dance is what I wanted, I also felt drawn to the special education field as well. While restarting my dance career, I started taking classes in the Special Education Department or SPED for fun and to fulfill graduation requirements. I loved learning new techniques and information on ADD and other disabilities. I noticed myself as drawn to this as I was dance, because learning not only more about my own disability but others made me want to share and help people who might be going through what I did for 15 years. That’s when I knew I had to combine both of the subjects I carry close to my heart— dance and disabilities.
In Comes Magic
When I realized that I wanted to take both of these two subjects and combine them, I immediately started researching to see if there are places or people who already do this, and if so how can I be a part of it? I happened to come across a job listing for a place that met all the prerequisites I wanted. I right away reach out to learn more details and if I could work for the company. It was MAGIC. The reason why I really wanted, and still want to work with this company is that they truly mix the two loves of my life into one and expand the opportunities of so many youths. Though times have been hard in the year of 2020, they have still been able to adapt and reach so many kids who may not even been able to experience MAGIC before due to location or availability, but now have all the opportunity to have the love and joy of having dance class. For the past two years at this company it has taught me, not only of various ways to spread the joy of dance; but also to not put dance into a box that only fits one mold. Dance is ever-changing the same as MAGIC and will continue to do so far into the future. I am thankful to all the families and employees who I have met along the way, and to future kids I will meet as well. I am ever grateful that I found that ad that led me to this experience.