Last week I alluded to some Dance Moms-like kind of crazy that had invaded our dance team and studio last week. It was bad…a toxic malignancy that took hold very quickly and spread destructively throughout the studio and all caused by one person’s crazy.

It was cancer she told some of us that she had. Members of our team have been touched by cancer before and, like before, we reached out offering support and help. It’s what we do. Funny how she avoided those of us who are medical professionals though. Perhaps because we could have called her out on her “treatments”.

Gossip, innuendo and criticism spread attacking families and dancers in the studio. Soon money belonging to the studio and to the team’s fund-raising efforts began to disappear as well. Then followed accusations with no concrete proof directed at two student teachers and team members. Her malignant behavior continued seeming to divide families.

Yet, in spite of her invasive destruction through lies and personal attacks, the kids thrived and excelled at the last competition in Davis. The parents came together as well, comparing notes and realizing just how much damage, hurt and pain one person was causing.

Perhaps she sensed that her carefully knitted web of lies and deceit was rapidly unraveling. How could she not? At the eleventh hour, before the next competition, she disappeared communicating only via testy text messages.

It was tempting to go after her. After all, she has left a lot of hurt and damage in her wake. But the show had to go on. There was a lot of work to be done changing several dances. In spite of their youth, the kids did just that. They put their heads down and focused on quickly learning and perfecting choreography. As much as they love and miss their team mate who abruptly left, she was not missed this last weekend.

Dare I say that they never danced with more depth and emotion than they did this last weekend?

I do.

So did the judges.

It’s amazing how quickly one can heal when the cancer is excised. These kids (ages 4-18) have learned so much because of this. They have learned that no one person is irreplaceable. They learned so much about their own abilities. They learned about trust. They learned that the show does indeed go on. They learned that what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger. Their team was nearly torn apart by this malignancy but once removed it only strengthened their bond as a team.

This team. This team is amazing! And to celebrate their strength, their healing and finally being cancer-free, they got silly…

with silly string.

Sorry, you weren’t missed.

Not.

At.

All.