Lost in Movement
By: Rachel McDonald center850008549640October 6, 2014
ENG4UMrs. Nortes1000000October 6, 2014
ENG4UMrs. Nortes

I have thought about it on many occasions and I have finally come to a realization, a life without dance for me wouldn't be a life at all. It has provided me with the ability to escape reality, it has given me so many valuable skills, and the ability to be confident enough to express myself. I have been dancing since I could walk, and it has evolved into an indispensable passion. There is just something about dance that allows me to lose myself within the movement. It is a feeling like no other. In my opinion dance is the most beautiful thing in the world, not only to be able to do but also to have the ability to watch. The day when dance dissipates into nothing more than a vague memory will be the day of my final breath, because it means far too much to me to ever let it slip from my life. Dance has become such a large part of who I am, that trying to live without it would be impossible.
There is no sense in denying the inevitable fact that life can at times be very difficult and demanding. Issues arise without a solution in sight on a daily basis, and the only way I can make it through difficult days is by escaping them completely, even if it is only for a short time. The only cure I use to avoid these types of days is moving. It may seem simple, and in truth, it is. I go to the studio, turn the lights down, and let the music move me. It really is a beautiful process that makes such a large impact on my mood and more importantly my life. Dance provides me with the most sincere escape from the loud world that surrounds me.
Not only does dancing help brighten the dark days but it helps to cope with emotional struggles. I experienced this personally last year when I decided to dedicate my solo to my beautiful grandmother who is struggling with severe Alzheimer’s. It was not easy subject for me to swallow, at first I did not know how to cope with the feelings I was having and I was drowning in the worst kind of sadness. Everywhere I looked the memories I have of her were looming over me like a dark grey cloud, and I could not stop thinking about my grandmother. I could not see the light at the end of the dark tunnel until I figured out the perfect solution to help me accept the truth, dance. I found a song that completely represented the feelings I had on my grandmother, performed a solo to it, and it became my own personal type of therapy. I felt the movement so deep in my soul that I actually shed tears on stage, and instead of worrying about what my score would be I focused on healing and learning to deal with this emotional stress that had been weighing me down. Dancing provides me with the best method to escape reality, and I am not sure how I would conquer through life without it.
In a constantly changing world I have always had one constant, dance. Dance has helped me to grow as an individual, and has taught me so many skills that are not only a vital part of dancing, but a necessary part of life. From it I have learned that hard work really does pay off. I have also recognized that motivation and perseverance are keys to success, what matters is not who wins in the beginning, but who is still on their feet in the end. There is no better way to learn than through experience, and with fifteen years of experience I have been able to take advantage of all the tools dance has provided me.
One of the many skills I have learned as a dance is to have great time management skills. On top of a six hour dance night I need to fit in time to finish homework, eat dinner, shower, do chores and be in bed before eleven thirty. Now it may seem like a hassle, but if anything having to learn to be efficient with time has helped me excel in some many other aspects of life. Life would be