Dance was a part of my life for fifteen years. That was fifteen years of dance recitals, ballet buns, and blistered feet. Like a lot of little girls, I began dancing because I wanted to be a ballerina. The fluid movements, the athleticism, and the sparkle were awe-inspiring. But over the years, I continued to dance, not because I thought I was going to be the next prima ballerina, but because I came to realize how much the sport shaped me as a person. Dance teaches so much more than technique and poise, it teaches life lessons that can be difficult to learn.

Dance teaches you that there is a beauty in expressing emotion.

So often in life, we are told to hide what we feel, avoid being "overly emotional". But this isn't what you are taught in dance. In dance, emotion is what conveys the story; it transforms dance from a sport to an art. In the dance room and on stage, emotion is compelling; it is not something to hide.

It reminds you that to reach the high point, you must must endure the low.

For each jump a dancer makes, they must remember to dig deep--run through plié--before they can reach high. This is a constant reminder that sometimes you need to move in the wrong direction to make it where you truly want to be, that it is okay to be at your low point before making it to your high.

That if you mess up, you just need to keep on going.

In dance, if you mess up a step, the rule is you keep on going and trick the audience into believing that it was supposed to happen like that. That's an important skill to have in life. Life won't always be perfect because you're not perfect. You will make mistakes and mess up your plans. But that's okay! Dance teaches you not to let the little mishaps keep you frozen.

Improvisation is a part of life.

Improvisation is dance is a fundamental skill. No choreography. Just you, music, and an eager audience. You have to learn to make a plan as you go without any idea of what is going to happen next. Sometimes in life, you lose yourself and are not sure what to do. But dance has you prepared. Because improvising life isn't all that different that improvising in a dance room. You just have to go with it and keep in mind that what you do may not be perfect.

That it's not necessary to be the lead to shine.

In a dance, you will not always be the one picked to be the lead or have a special solo part. But that's ok. You learn to shine in the role you were given. Similarly, in life, you may not always be the one in charge or be in the position you wish you had, but this doesn't mean you can't make wonderful contributions. Dance teaches you to give it your all no matter how big or small your part may be.

Lastly, it teaches that you need to spot where you want to go.

You must spot your turns. This idea is drilled into every young dancers mind. It's because without spotting, you will lose your balance and will not end up where you want to be. Dance teaches you to keep your eye on your ultimate goal, whether that is moving across that stage or getting your dream job.