Finding Myself Through Dance

I didn’t like drawing attention to myself. For a long time, I struggled to speak up. In class, I would stay quiet, even when I had ideas or knew the answer. I would rather let someone else answer. I wasn’t sure how to express myself or show people who I really was. That started to change when I began dancing.

In the beginning, I was nervous to dance in front of others. I wasn’t sure if I was doing the moves right, and I didn’t want to mess up. But when I looked around my little class, I realized nobody else cared what they were doing, they were all just dancing. Through this, I started becoming more comfortable in the dance environment. I realized that all achievements made were celebrated and not envied. Dance gave me a way to express emotions I didn’t always understand or know how to say out loud.

As I kept dancing, I started to gain confidence. I practiced more, learned new styles, and challenged myself with harder routines. I joined group performances and began to feel more comfortable being seen. Dance helped me take up space, not just on stage, but in life.

Eventually, I started choreographing my own routines. One piece I created was about feeling overwhelmed and trying to find stability in my life. It was based on my own experiences with stress and self-doubt. After performing it, someone told me they really connected with the message. That moment made me realize how powerful dance can be, not just for me, but for others, too. It can tell stories, share emotions, and create connections without needing any words at all.

Now, I feel more confident in all areas of my life. I speak up in class. I try new things without being so afraid of failing. I understand myself better, and I’m not as worried about what others think. Dance helped me get here. It gave me a voice when I didn’t know how to use mine. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from dance is how to keep going, even when things get difficult. There have been times I couldn’t get a move right, or when I felt frustrated and wanted to give up. But dance taught me to be patient with myself. It showed me that growth takes time and effort, and that it’s okay to make mistakes along the way. This helped me become a better teammate, listener, and leader. In group rehearsals, I’ve learned how to support others, accept feedback, and trust people to support me in return.

That’s why dance is such an important part of who I am. It’s not just a hobby, it’s something that helped shape me. Without it, I wouldn’t have grown into the person I am today.