To Dance…

PC: Peddecord Photo

 PC: BYU Photo

PC: AddieLynn Photography

PC:Rosalie O’Connor

PC: Reynolds Duck

 PC: BYU Photo

Todays blog post is different than one I would typically write. On my blog I share my love for fashion, but I often feel that I’m not sharing something else that is very special and important to me.  If someone sat me down and asked how I would  describe myself in a couple words, one of the first things I would say would be “dancer.” With my performances this weekend, I’ve been thinking about what it means to be a dancer and to have that label written upon you.

Many things can come into someones mind when you say you’re a dancer. Most people think of dance as a recreational activity, something most children do in their free time after school. While this is how I started my journey, my recreational activity quickly became something much more involved leading me to move to New York City at the age of 16 to further my art.

Why do I dance? What is it about moving my body to a song that brings so much fulfillment? Why do I spend countless hours perfecting my art that could easily be labeled in todays society as trivial? Why do I put myself through the physical fatigue and pain that comes with this beautiful art form? You would think I would have the answer to this question after dancing for 18 years. For me, dance is how I express myself when words are insufficient. Through dance, you can express the joy, sorrow, passion, and adversity you are feeling when words are insufficient. It allows us to show the world who we are and who we can be.

Dance has also provided me with more opportunities than I could have ever imagined. With these opportunities often came trials and pain, but I know that these experiences molded me into the person I am today.

If you ask a dancer why they dance, be prepared for a variety of answers. Every answer will be different, and that is how it should be. The better question is, “Why would we not dance?”