Another dance recital. Another senseless act of violence. Another community left shattered.
The headlines tell the story we’ve heard too many times before: a child’s performance, proud parents in the audience, then—gunfire. The Saenger Theatre shooting didn’t just disrupt a recital; it stole lives, traumatized young dancers, and left families questioning how something meant to be joyful could turn so horrific.
### **The Unthinkable Happens—Again**
Dance studios are supposed to be safe spaces—places where kids learn discipline, creativity, and confidence. But in an instant, an argument in the crowd turned a celebration into a nightmare. This wasn’t just an attack on individuals; it was an attack on the very idea of community.
What does it say about us when even a children’s dance recital isn’t safe?
### **Demanding More Than Thoughts and Prayers**
Community activists are right to call for accountability. But accountability isn’t just about finding who pulled the trigger—it’s about asking why this keeps happening. How many more recitals, schools, and public spaces have to become crime scenes before real change happens?
The dance studio offering counseling is a step in the right direction, but healing takes more than therapy—it takes prevention.
### **A Call to Protect the Places That Matter**
If we can’t protect our kids at a dance performance, where *can* we protect them?
This tragedy should be a wake-up call—not just for stricter security measures, but for a deeper look at the roots of violence. Dance floors should be for pirouettes, not panic. The stage should be for applause, not ambulances.
We owe it to these young performers—and to every child who just wants to dance—to do better.
**#EnoughIsEnough**
