When I was a teenager, I remember people asking me, “how long have you been dancing?” By the age of fifteen, it had been nearly twelve years. So people were genuinely shocked. I didn’t get it, but I didn’t know why I danced. I knew it was just something I did. My body loved to move, but I didn’t know why I was moving. Now, during my reflection of dance in my life, I now know its presence. It is a liberating feeling, to know when you’ve been chosen to do something. Dance is my something. It is not my only thing, but it is my haven. The place where I learned strength, perseverance, motivation, discipline, and passion. Dance is a place where I can share my trauma, experience, mistakes, and joy. The atmosphere allows me to be my true self, and the judgements placed are to make me better. For goodness sakes, dance saved my life!
I know I am a dancer, but I feel like I am a new breed of dancer. I’m a multi-style dancer, like most nowadays. Dance is something different, something more. For instance, when I improv, it is my diary entry. I literally free write for 3-5 minutes, and even though each movement is different from the other, they still connect and flow with ease. My language is interpreted with the strokes of my steps. It’s everything. It’s everything I need to say, that I couldn’t say without dance.
Without dance, I would not be able to be writing now. My story would seem meaningless. My life would seem meaningless. ”Dance is Life” is my story. The things I’ve learned from dance, is almost everything everyone needs to learn about life. Through the life of dance, I hope I can give insight on the community and life, as I see it.
JOYE 