When Adventures Staff Angela Aston encountered unlikely opposition to her love of dance and her desire to share it with young girls in Guatemala, she saw God move in a way that brought her new life and spoke directly to her heart.
I’ve never thought these words would be spoken over me.
When I was younger I wanted to be a dancer. I loved to dance. As a teenager I struggled with an eating disorder. I was obsessive about my weight. I remember sometimes weighing myself 10+ times in a day, praying I had lost weight. I looked online to see how much a ballerina should weigh, and I was not even close to that. So I never took dance as a teenager.
Then, in college, I took ballet classes. You can imagine my excitement. I was so giddy going to the ballet store to pick up my leotard, tights, and shoes. I had so much joy every class, I daydreamed I was in New York getting ready for my next show. It was magical.
Dance has always brought me so much joy.
I even took my ballet slippers with me on the World Race and taught ballet in villages and orphanages.
Since I arriving in Guatemala, I’ve wanted to start a dance ministry for the girls who work at the central park with their moms all day. With a lot of big ideas so there was just one thing left: I needed to brush up on my ballet. It’s been a few years since I have taken a class and I want to make sure I am offering these girls the best class possible. So I want to first be the best student I can be.
After a lot of research, I finally found a ballet studio near me. I was so excited; I couldn’t wait to talk with the instructor and sign up for classes. At first, all went well. I told the instructor I wanted information on classes. I was invited in and when I saw a ballet bar and mirrors, excitement welled up inside of me. But when the instructor told about the classes and their hours, she said that because I don’t do pointe I would have to be in the younger kids’ class. That really didn’t bother me. I’m not looking to become a professional; I just want to brush up.
But then she looked at me with a concerned look and said, “You’re too fat to dance here. You have to understand, if I let you in I would have to let other fat people in.”
I could not believe what was happening. The instructor said if I lost enough weight in the next month that I could be accepted into her class. Somehow I held it together, finished the conversation, and thanked her for her time.
A few weeks later, I went to a salsa class in this cute little studio with some friends. I was in love with how amazing this place was and how many walls had mirrors. After the class I asked our instructor where I could buy a mirror, because if I could not do ballet in a studio I was going to figure out how to do it at my house. She asked me why I needed such a large mirror, so I told her what happened at the ballet studio.
Gloria looked at me in disbelief and gave me a hug. Then she told me I could dance at her studio whenever I wanted.
And so I have, even locking up when after she’s left for the day.
Dancing in Guatemala has taught me to remember the power of my words. That every time I open my mouth I have the choice to speak life or death over a person or a situation.
It’s also taught me something deeply personal: that God knows the passions of my heart – because He placed them there. Dancing for him gives me joy; it gives me joy as well. The truth he speaks over me is that I am his Beloved Daughter who He delights in, and who he loves to see dance.
I dance for him and him alone.
And now, I’m one step closer to pursuing this dream he has given me: a dance ministry for girls in Guatemala.
Do you have a God-given dream and talent you want to share with others? Click here for opportunities to use your gifts overseas.
