Clarissa's Perceptions In The Short Story Dancer By Vickie Sears

In the short story "Dancer" by Vickie Sears, the protagonist Clarissa demonstrates how being around the right people can influence one's perception of the world. Throughout the story, Clarissa exudes confidence and can reconnect with a culture she had once lost, thanks to the guidance of the right people.

Clarissa regains her self-confidence by being around the right people. Before unveiling her past traumatic experiences, she seemed full of anger and sadness (Sears, 1). Initially withdrawn from her foster family, the narrator observes that "She was a real loner. Not trusting anyone else." When Clarissa accompanies the family to her kid's powwow, she sits alone and shows no interest in the dance (Sears 1, 2). She was a very timid and alarmed

Having a bad representation of yourself shows a lack of confidence. Having nightmares that get her calling out for help, and imagining that no one is going to help her, also shows that she has no faith in people around her and is anxious about many things in her life. Her showing no interest in school powwow dance also showed us that she was afraid to express herself, be open towards people, and let people see who she was. Coming from nothing to a caring family that healed her past trauma, Clarissa can foresee a loving and caring family that gives her the confidence she never had. When her parents give Clarissa a green satin wing dress, they can alter her perspective on the world. "I'm going to dance with Molly Greybull" (Sears 4), a statement made by Clarissa. This enabled Clarissa to achieve the desired level of confidence to be herself again. We can see that she is taking the initiative to initiate social interactions, which she wasn't able to do previously. Being able to ask someone to dance and being ready to engage with others and be part of a community is her way of overcoming her past isolation. She is also healing through the art of dance, which allows Clarissa to communicate and regain her