Shall We Dance?

Partner dance is hands-down one of the best activities you can do.  We can talk all day about the mental, physical, and emotional/social benefits of partner dancing, but it is even more than that.  I have made it my mission to be a “dance evangelist” and spread the word of ballroom and to do whatever I can to inspire people to try it at least once.  I believe  in the transformative power of partner dance to help people who they most would like to be–to realize their dreams and bring out the best in them.

I know, it sounds like a tall order for such a seemingly inconsequential activity, but we long for meaningful connection in this world and simultaneously fear our unworthiness.  We want people to care about us.  We want to be seen and to be heard.  We want to matter.  But we worry we are too fat, to old, to uninteresting, too unattractive, too unworthy.  Partner dance brings this out more than any other activity…it is scarier even than public speaking.  We all feel like awkward middle school students at their first dance even into adulthood if we don’t learn how to dance with a partner.  We feel like everyone will be looking at us and be judging us.  Our biggest bully is usually the voice in our head.

We have a saying in the dance world:  The hardest step in learning how to dance is the first one through the front door.  Swallowing all of those fears and insecurities to come in and learn how to dance is a tremendously courageous act.  No, we don’t risk life or limb, but our psyche and our heart.  Brene’ Brown, in her famous TED talk, tells us that the birthplace of all creativity, love, and joy is found only through opening ourselves to vulnerability.

Dancing helps the real you–the best you–shine.  And what you learn about yourself through dancing, what you learn about partnership and communication, what you learn to express on the dance floor, can transform your life.  Shall we dance?