A Brave Thing

Improvisational dancing is a brave thing to do. The feeling of executing steps on the fly is sometimes wonderful, sometimes awkward. It’s very interesting to watch a group of dancers perform improv; the way their body naturally moves is exhibited and their personality shines through. To be honest, I used to be a fearless dancer. I would prance and twirl around my house, literally as if no one was watching. After starting formal lessons, the perfection monster inside me began to take over. Thoughts like: “That’s not turned out!” and “My extension could have been higher!” clouded my mind constantly. I lost the ability to dance improv confidently. Technique was always in the back of my mind, haunting my every step.
However, this morning at class, my teacher gave us the amazing experience to improvisational dance for a while. It’s nerve racking to move freely and solely in front of a whole group of people. All my self-doubt came pouring in the moment the first dancer glided across the floor. I was petrified with fear. The raw uncertainty and vulnerability of it all seemed too much. I couldn’t do it. The next round, my teacher gave us specifications. I felt more comfortable having structure and luckily one of my friends danced by my side. By the third time across, I was confident. Maybe my moves were not always pretty, turned out, or whatever, but they came from within me. Looking back, I had nothing to worry about: I was surrounded by amazing friends and loving teachers. My support group.
The freedom I felt reminded me of why I started dancing in the first place, though. My perfection monster was silenced, perhaps captured by the beauty. In the end, I rediscovered the pure bliss and freedom that allured me to dance in the first place. I can only sum this all up in one cliché quote: “Dance like no one is watching.”

Happy Dancing!
Theresa