If you ask anyone to tell you about me, one of the first things they will say is, “she dances,” “she’s a dancer,” or something along those lines. It used to bother me that dancing seemed to be the only thing people knew about me. It seemed as if that was the only thing about me that was worth knowing. I finally realized that it’s ok if dance is my identifier because it’s a huge part of my life and who I am.

When I dance there’s a sense of euphoria that washes over me. Even if I’m going through a rough patch in my life I know I have one thing that will help me feel better. Dance is something that has always been a stress reliever, therapy, and exercise all in one. It’s nice to have a passion for something that can heal you physically, mentally, and emotionally.

The other part of dance that I love is all the people and friends that I meet because of it. I love when I can connect with and learn from other dancers and choreographers. What I have discovered is that everyone has their own unique style, even if they have the same training. When I watch a dance that was made by someone I know I can tell who choreographed it by the signature moves. It’s kind of like a signature, and I think that’s amazing.

I’ve made a lot of really good friends through dance that I can see staying friends with for a long time. Freshman year of college I started a dance team with someone who I had just met, and she has turned out to be one of my closest friends, along with several others who joined the team that year, and the years that followed. Not only do we come together to dance and share our passion, we also can talk and confide in each other. Our friendships go further than just dance, but it was the magic of dance that brought us together.