Recently for my class project, I was asked for the first time out of my 13 years of dancing, "Why do you dance?"

I was a little taken back I haven't been asked this before. Dancing is something that I've done my whole life it just has been something I did. A hobby, an art, a sport. I sat there startled for a bit and it fell into place.

I dance because it's how I express myself. It doesn't matter what mood I am in. I can be so happy and I would want to pursue all that energy into dance. I can feel heartbroken and devastated and make people feel how I feel through dance. I can get take out all my anger and frustration with the world in practice. It's my stress relief. It's my life.

Dance is like my best friend. My family. It's always been there for me when I was down. It challenged me, strengthened me, and made me the person I am today.

Dance has taught me dedication. In order to get better, I had to commit myself to the sport. Everyday driving a 30 min commute to the studio for two or more hours every day. Putting 110% into every rehearsal and every practice. Pouring my heart out into each step, every turn, and every pointe. It has taught me resilience. To never give up. To keep trying even when I am having an off day. Even when I feel like I can't that I have to keep dancing. The show must go on.

Performance. What all that practice and hard work is for. Every dress rehearsal, every technique class, every morning practice. Performing in front of a crowd is what makes it worth it. It's the adrenaline rush. Applause, whistles, and cheering. The lights beating down on you as you try to remain calm. Even though your nerves are shaking you smile because what you're about to do for two minutes, maybe three or four, is months of hard work, and years of training to do.

Dance is so powerful, It can bring awareness to serious situations, shine a light on those stories to inspire others, and to make the audience feel something. It makes the little girls in the audience or in the studio look up to the older girls and say, "I want to be just like her when I grow up."

It's the audience. It's the feeling. It's the performance. This is why I dance. It's my passion. The love of my life. It's my God given talent I embrace every day. Dance makes me feel alive.