To friends and readers all over the world,
It is with a heavy heart that I write DA’s final post. Those of you closest to me may have suspected this day would come. I began Dance Advantage six years ago with no inkling of where it would take me and I am so proud that it’s become a resource for the dance community.
Over the past few years, changes in my life have made the site more difficult to administer. I teach, I care for my children, I manage my home, I freelance. Through it all, I’ve fought to make time for DA in my schedule and surrendered hours and hours of sleep in order to check off the mounting number of tasks required of me as editor and contributor of a growing site.
My decision has not come lightly, and I know that many of you will be disappointed. However, the time has come for me to move forward on a new path. Don’t worry, our former posts will remain at this domain for as long as I can maintain it.
I would like to say THANK YOU to everyone who has supported and inspired me through the years, and who stand by me now as I make this difficult decision. I have appreciated our time together more than you could ever know.
With love,
Dance and dream out loud,
Nichelle
April Fools!
Was that mean? Or, did you totally know I was pulling your legwarmers?
Dance Advantage isn’t going anywhere. I repeat, this is not our final post – far from it. It’s just our… 813th.
Okay, parts of that letter are actually true. First of all, I really would like to say THANK YOU! I’m quite sure that I have the smartest, most creative readers in the universe. And, yes, more hours than I can even calculate have been spent working on Dance Advantage – my own, and that of our contributors and our friends. Growing has its pains but Dance Advantage hasn’t been a pain at all. In fact, I honestly love what I do.
Stepping out on this limb six years ago (yes, it’s our blogiversary!) is possibly the best thing I’ve EVER done, aside from giving birth to two fantastic children.
What an amazing journey.
There are over 5,000 comments on our posts and almost none are SPAM. I know because, well, remember those mounting tasks I wrote about?
And, did you know that since 2009 (when I actually started counting in earnest), DA has had 1.4 million visits? I know Facebook gets like 600 times that in a day, but hey, for an independent dance site, we’re doing okay!
What are the musts to keep a dance blog going for six years?
Two things:
1. Love it.
2. Stick with it.
That’s what I’ve done so far with dance and with dance blogging, and neither pursuit has let me down so far. Instead, I’m continually blessed and fulfilled by what they bring to my life.
Even though you’ve given me a lot, I’m humbly asking if you’d honor me with just a few words in the comments.
I’d like to know if Dance Advantage has ever helped you with something in your dance life. Yes or No?
If you can, elaborate on ways or instances that it has.
I’m asking because it will highlight more ways I can help you in the future.
Again, thank you. Here’s to another six years!
Nichelle Suzanne is a writer specializing in dance and online content. She is also a dance instructor with over 20 years experience teaching in dance studios, community programs, and colleges. She began Dance Advantage in 2008, equipped with a passion for movement education and an intuitive sense that a blog could bring dancers together. As a Houston-based dance writer, Nichelle covers dance performance for Dance Source Houston, Arts+Culture Texas, and other publications. She is a leader in social media within the dance community and has presented on blogging for dance organizations, including Dance/USA. Nichelle provides web consulting and writing services for dancers, dance schools and studios, and those beyond the dance world. Read Nichelle’s posts.
