I throw myself around rooms full of smiley, sweaty people while sensually moving my hips, and this rhythmic movement increased my confidence and variety of friends. You are probably envisioning me as common alcohol infused college student attending frat parties and that Tinder is my second most used app (Snapchat is always first: duh.).

Your assumptions are incorrect: alcohol is not my vice, not even sure how to use "The Tinder", and large parties steer me toward the comfort of accounting homework. I am referring to rooms bustling with salsa dancing, and this dancing liberates me in ways nothing else can.

Last fall semester I muddled through life in a fog, questioning all things I previously deemed meaningful. I needed something new and stirring to pull me from the haze, so a good friend suggested I salsa with her. At Virginia Tech, there is a fantastic club called SalsaTech. (*shameless plug*). Each week SalsaTech offers free lessons and a marvelous salsa massive at Sycamore Deli. The best thing is: the crowd changes from week to week, and you mingle with whomever you deem worthy of your precious time. Salsa effortlessly sliced my fog with the provision of three things: international friends, a new passion, and understanding of a mature sensuality.

As a southern girl surrounded by mostly Caucasians pre-college, salsa socials are cultural heaven. On my first few excursions, I wanted good dancers to pity my pathetically inexperienced self. I realized that if you pick up the basics, people start to judge your hip movements, the ultimate indicator of potential for females. *God bless that I can move that which my mama bequeathed unto me.* As I continued learning, I met people by lacking a filter and asking about their moves and life itself. Hellos led to curiously swapping cultural stories and differences without judgment, and from these swaps my knowledge about the world has diversified too. I ate purple potatoes (pretty and delicious) with and learned about foreign policy from a Peruvian, discussed educational system differences and international importance of the English language with a Columbian, and even the societal contrasts of Turkey and the U.S. These diverse friends show me the world through their experiences.

While exploring others’ passions and my flexibility limitations, I deemed it time to place emphasis on my own loves. The shift of a lifetime happened first: my grades dropped. Anyone family, friends, or really anybody pre-freshman year of college is thinking: “HELL HATH FROZEN, THY GRADES DROPPETHED.” Salsa is a passion, as is my education; frankly, I give quite a damn about both. I simply realized school success amounts to little happiness as my only focus. However, knowing salsa cannot be in my future if I neglect my homework definitely places an importance upon prioritization. Finding new passion help you reevaluate and balance your older loves. Do not avoid new things because you fear a temporary pause in other adventures. Besides, what is early adulthood without a mini-meltdown about your actions every now and then?

Altered by salsa are my once conflicted thoughts about sensuality. Successfully executing a body roll while taking basic bachata steps helped me embrace it. Bachata, the slow comrade of salsa, is fluid, graceful, and intends to make a woman a dancing goddess. While often cited as pure seduction, I see it as self-appreciation. Performing complicated moves or swaying my hips perfectly causes my confidence to soar. Men and women, international and local, gather to dance to feel alive and free. Sensuality is an appreciation of our own mature beauty. Dancing allows us to show each other off. Sometimes we look gorgeous, and other times, more like this adorably clumsy fawn.

I previously reckoned sensuality a weapon wielded for male attention. Sure, there are moments when I exude some flirt, but tastefulness comes with the mature understanding. The real beauty of sensuality is unleashing it slowly and at your own pace. Bachata and salsa give me body confidence that no amount of flattery or exercise ever will.

This article mentions nothing about tomato and pepper enriched goodness, but I hope you think: "Wow, more exists for this sauce(y) dance than I thought.” My clouds cleared when I started sweating with some international diversity and allowing myself to be confident. Go do something new if you are feeling hazy. You NEVER know which doors open with steps taken in a direction different from that which you always stride (or bachata sway...).