Have you ever worked hard toward something, only to achieve it and immediately think about what you could’ve done better? Maybe you received a good grade but focused on the points you lost, or reached a goal only to set a higher one. Sometimes, no matter how much progress we make, it never feels like enough. I recognize this mindset in both dance and school. Instead of appreciating how far I've come, I often focus on what I still need to fix. This makes me curious about perfe

When I was younger, I was really shy. I didn't talk much, and it showed in the way I danced, too. I was careful with my movements, rarely used facial expressions, and often gravitated toward the back of the room during class. I didn't want to draw attention to myself and worried about what other people thought. It's strange to think about that now because dance has become one of the places where I feel most comfortable being myself. Somewhere along the way, I stopped worrying

There is a very specific feeling I get before walking onto the stage for a solo. I can know my choreography, have practiced it countless times, and still feel my nerves taking over. Knowing that I am going on stage alone, with everyone watching and wanting to do the dance perfectly, can feel like a lot to carry. I get really cold and shaky when I’m nervous. Over the years, I’ve gotten better at handling those feelings, but the nerves haven’t completely disappeared. Instead, I

I had never heard of dance/movement therapy until a mentor introduced me to it. At first, I was surprised that something I had spent so much of my life doing could actually be used as a form of therapy. But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. I already knew how different I could feel after dancing, less stressed, happier, and more focused, so the idea of intentionally using movement to support someone's well-being immediately caught my attention. I wanted to

Hi, I’m Amara! I have been dancing since I was two years old, and over the years, dance has become much more than something I do in the studio. Through years of rehearsals, performances, and constantly learning new movements, dance has challenged me, helped me build confidence, and given me an outlet for expressing myself. It has also made me realize that movement can affect how we feel, think, and connect with others, something that has made me curious about the connection b