For as long as I can remember, dance has been the one thing that allowed me to lose myself and find myself all at the same time. Starting at the age of two, my mom enrolled me in a few dance classes. At first, it was just for fun. But as the years went on, it came to be so much more than that. My escape.

When my dance career began to thrive, I became more aware of the world around me. When times got tough, I looked for a way to express how I felt without words. Luckily enough for me, I was trained in a multitude of different dance styles. Whether it be lyrical, tap, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, or even ballet; each one gave me the opportunity to express myself in a unique way. In addition, there were also countless genres of music that allowed me to convey different emotions. If there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that we dance for the moments we can't put into words.

Whenever I feel an overwhelming wave of emotion, instead of allowing it to consume me, I stop what I’m doing, clear some space, put on music, and do what I do best, dance. The moment the music leaves the speakers, I lose myself. For those few minutes, nothing else matters. Dancing has always been my happy place. The place where I can be myself and not worry about what others think or my current life problems. It’s just me, the floor, and the music.

While I haven’t danced as a part of a team for a while now, I still frequently use my escape to my advantage. Someone a long time ago once told me to “Dance like nobody's watching, love like you’ve never been hurt, and live like there’s no tomorrow.” I have chosen to take this piece of advice and run with it. I haven’t looked back since. As for the future, I can promise I’ll never stop dancing. In all honesty, I couldn’t ever give up the feeling I get when I'm able to just let go. You know what they say, once you're a part of something, it never really leaves you. My escape has and will always be my one true love. I have never been so sure of something in my life.