Music and dance has critically motivated me on and off the stage. I gain an overwhelming amount of confidence when expressing my talents. Whenever I’m not in the best mood or I feel stressed from school work, I can always relieve myself of worries by dancing. Dance is a beautiful distraction. I am freed by the bursts of energy that comes whenever I call.

Dancing has opened my mind to so many different styles and techniques. I used to be strictly hip-hop. But over the years I’ve been to different workshops and met many choreographers. These choreographers knew how to incorporate other styles into hip-hop and make it look flawless. I take everything I see and learn and use it to improve my talent. My greatest motivation comes from, the choreographer Luam Keflezgy. Luam is a true artist. I’ve been watching and learning her choreography for years, until that fateful day when I got to actually go to New York, meet her and take one of her classes. It was an advanced class and I was one of the youngest students participating. When it was over I talked to her for a brief moment and she introduced me to one of her assistants who is from DC. He gave me a good and bad critique and told me that I should come to New York when I’m older, because we need more talent from DC. With the school talent show coming up, I questioned myself daily if I should perform or not, curious about what others would think. But the experience in New York, alone gave me the boost I needed to come back and dominate the talent show. I know now that I needed to perform for myself and express what I felt inside. Listen and accept criticism but at the end of the day do what makes you feel happy.

Different styles can be taught and learned through art, but many overlook the life lessons you can learn. I’ve gained so much wisdom from observing and emulating my influences, from well known choreographers to a high school dance team captain named Douglas. I’ve gained from dance itself. Learning to accept all techniques and be diverse. I’m currently improving and there’s still room for more growth. But as of now, dancing has helped me grow to be a patient and courageous young adult. Not to take away from other genres of art, but the fluidity and rhythm of precise body movement is inspirational, pushing me to even consider a career in a professional choreography. The choreographers that I’ve met have, more or less, all said the same thing. “Don’t do it, if you don’t love it’. Meaning, if you don’t have a passion for it, then it’s not for you. Well I think it’s safe to say that I love to dance. I love all art, but none of them compare to the feeling I get when I dance. Dance exists through me, and I exist to dance.