For me, dancing is not just an interest or a hobby. It can really help you physically, reduce stress, and it can change your life. When dancing, for me, I am in another world because when dancing, you just relax, enjoy, and forget all your problems.
I started dancing when I was just six years old. I can’t remember exactly how it started, but I remember, my cousin was the first one who started dancing and she just taught me her own short choreography, and I enjoyed it. That is when I started to love dancing.
Everytime our cousins, titos, and titas come and visit us, we perform in front of them. Until my cousin encouraged me to join summer dance workshop. That was like four years ago. We practiced thrice a week. On the first day, I was so nervous when I met my coach since it was my first time joining a dance workshop. But then on my third or fourth day, I began talking to others, and I had new friends. We practiced for like one or almost two months I think. This dance workshop did not just help me improve my dancing skills, but also helped me increase my confidence in facing new people.
During our recital, I enjoyed watching other performances and we really had fun. When it was already our turn, I was a bit nervous, but I just thought that I wanted this, and I should be confident, and just enjoy what I am doing. Our performance was great, and I felt very happy and proud after our performance, especially when the audience gave us a massive round of applause.
Dance has taught me teamwork. It is really hard to work with more than 20 people in one class. I learned how to cooperate and understand my coach when she teaches us new choreography. Dance has also taught me responsibility. When we have practice, I prepare early to go to the place where we practice. Nobody forced me to go to practice, but I keep telling and asking myself, “ Why am I here? “ and always thinks that I love dancing, and I want to make my coach, my teammates, and myself proud. Dance also serves as a form of expression everytime I cannot express myself in any other way. I dance when I am happy, or excited. Dancing is like a language that speaks more than any words because, you are not just saying something, but you putting them into action. In dancing, you have to trust your teammates. You should not be arguing with each other but instead, understand each other. It doesn’t really matter how good you are in dancing, or any other aspects. The most important thing is that, you enjoy what you are doing, and have fun. That is the most important lesson I’ve learned during that dance workshop. I did not join just to improve my skills, but also to have fun, and overcome my confidence issues, shyness, and stage fright. Even though that is just 2 months, I’ve learned many things that I will never forget, and that made me a better person.