“Every time I dance I find a new way of movement, which I find so amazing and unique about dance itself.”
Spending my evenings teaching at SI Dance gives me the opportunity to connect with and train so many wonderful dancers, including Sydney. Like so many, Sydney started dancing at the age of 3, and she hasn’t stopped since, even after being diagnosed as a type 1 Diabetic. Sydney’s life changed in 6th grade with her diagnosis. She has had to learn to be even more aware of her body and its needs, and to adjust as she takes classes and performs. Sydney’s evenings and weekends are full of dance classes, which greatly affects her body. Her mom is always monitoring Sydney’s levels, thanks to her Omni Pod and Dexcom.
Sydney shared, “Dance currently is most of my life, I train very seriously all year long and absolutely love it. All of my weeks and weekends are filled with dance. When I was first diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 6th grade, it was like learning to live a new life with all these new rules and shots all the time. Throughout middle school it started to become my new normal, and now I barely notice it anymore. This has affected my dance journey because it would constantly upset me. I would sometimes have to stop dancing or miss dance because of my blood sugar. I learned to overcome and deal with it properly and now I can control it and it doesn’t bother my dancing at all.”
I asked Sydney about the joys dance brings to her, and she exclaimed, “Dance has brought me so such joy and freedom for myself. Growing up with dance, I have learned so many things about myself and new ways to move. I love that dance gives me the ability to always be learning something new. Every time I dance I find a new way of movement, which I find so amazing and unique about dance itself.”
Sydney’s Omni Pod is often visible on her body when dancing, and there is no reason to hide it. Over the years, there have been young dancers and parents approach Sydney at dance conventions & competitions to talk to her about it. She gladly spends time sharing her experience as a young dancer with diabetes and inspires other dancers to not be ashamed of their own diagnosis. I am so lucky to have had Sydney as a dance student, and I am so excited to see where her dance career takes her. I know she will do great things and become even more of a role model for other dancers fighting the battle against type 1 Diabetes.
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