Enriching Life Through Dance

I don’t remember the first time I ever danced, but my mother says that as a very little girl, I would put on Halloween costumes and twirl around the house, playing Snow White or Sleeping Beauty, with a certain kind of dramatic flair that only five-year-old girls can pull off.

Even at such a young age, I seemed to have an appreciation for dance that has been a staple throughout my life. As I’ve “grown up,” which might be a loosely coined term, being that I’m only 23 and recently graduated from college, I am grateful for what dance has taught me, and the experiences I have had because of it. Now, as a dance teacher, I hope that I can help others enrich their lives through dance.

I have taken dance lessons since I was three. Ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, contemporary, modern, hip hop, lyrical, West African- you name it, I probably took it. It wasn’t until I was 13, that I got my first taste of ballroom dancing. As you can imagine, for many of you from first-hand experience, I was hooked from the start. Partner dancing was a whole new world to me, and I loved experiencing ways that two people could work together to make such beautiful movements. I learned how to trust another person to not lead me astray, which is a very difficult task for a stubborn 13-year-old girl. I also learned how to exude grace and poise, with awkward, long lanky legs and braces- another daunting task.

When I turned 14, I traveled to my first competition. I didn’t know what to expect, and felt out of place, in my long gown dripping in rhinestones, high heels and hair-sprayed bun. As soon as I walked into the ballroom, I was in awe. Words can not do justice to the feeling of pure bliss and excitement that encompassed me. From that moment on, I knew that I wanted that feeling to always be my reality. I cried for two days after it was over, and told my mom I didn’t want to go back to the “real world.” She felt the same way.

There is an “old world charm” that surrounds the art of ballroom dancing that I have always loved and appreciated, even as a young girl. I began learning so much more than dancing at these competitions, and in my hometown studio. I watched and observed as people were kind and courteous to each other, and treated each other with the utmost respect. Men always opened doors for the ladies, and asked the women to dance with such chivalry. I felt, that this was the way the whole world should be. The ballroom was beautiful, the people were elegant, the dancing was beyond explanation, and I started to feel at home.

To make a long story short, ballroom dancing has honestly shaped me into the person I am today. I don’t think there is any way to describe the things it has taught me in my life. I have learned the way I like to conduct myself, the way I like to be treated and the way I always want to treat others. I learned to be a humble winner and gracious loser. I learned how to feel physically and mentally in shape through the exercise that ballroom dancing provides. I learned how to respect others in a way that seems lost on much of society today. I learned how to see beauty with its enriching influence, because everything seems more beautiful when you’re dancing.

There is no way to describe the enjoyment you can get from dancing. In addition to all the above mentioned aspects, it is so much fun! It is my true belief, that anyone and everyone can benefit from dancing, and enjoy it, if you give it a try. It worked for me!!

Yours truly,

Katy Davis