Pre-performance jitters are always the worst. It's like the monarch butterflies decided to make their migration across your stomach, millions of them. You're worrying about messing up the steps but at the same time you're not going to. You know this dance. There isn't enough time to go over anything you were unsure of before, because you are ushered on stage almost immediately, the lights off, the curtain down. The rise of the curtain is too slow, you just want to do this. Your feet are itching to do the steps you've practiced for months. The butterflies have subsided and been replaced with a warm feeling. You can do this. The curtain has risen and the music cues, playing the opening notes you've heard countless times. Its like a sixth sense takes over you, the dance moves that you know by heart flow effortlessly,  you don't even have to think about them. It is just you and the music and in that moment it is all you need and it is perfect. Months are put into three minutes, some of the hardest work ever. Something people who weren't dancers would never understand. And as soon as it started, it is over and the curtain is closed. You're left feeling the happiest you've ever been. It didn't matter if you messed up a little bit, you did it and you knew you could. There's nothing more rewarding than sharing what you love with others.