The Chance to Dance Anonymous

I feel the sweat drip down my neck and soak into the fabric of my bedazzled gown. I clench my fists and inhale deeply, closing my eyes to see the reassuring grin of my choreographer in my mind. Here I stay, tucked securely behind the stage curtain for a few more precious seconds before I must face the crowd, forced to scan the eager eyes of family members and complete strangers alike before beginning my routine. As I walk out to perform my first solo dance number, I remember how much I have invested into this very moment – the passion coursing through my veins that has prepared me for whatever may occur in the next four minutes. I have never felt more alive.

I knew I had a love for dance long before experiencing the adrenaline of a solo performance. I appreciate its unique ability to transport me into my own fantastical world where anything is possible, creating an environment where even the most absurd ideas can come to life before my eyes. I was addicted to making moves my own, adding my own flare to age-old techniques and expressing myself through the only way I knew how. Pushing myself and growing as a dancer became my only interest, and perfecting self-choreographed routines completely filled up my free time.

When I was...