Your Prescription: Dance Often

One month ago today, I had the privilege of exploring dance with twenty individuals who were open to trying something new. I was floored at the turnout. In a world that is used to structure, they knew they were signing up to let go of that structure, even just for two hours, and see what happened if they just…danced. And I am so proud of every one of them.

It was an interesting role to step into as an instructor. I am used to leading the room through movement, demonstrating, observing, and correcting. This time, I stepped into a place of vulnerability with the rest of the room. I learned so much from everyone around me.

We danced freely. We leaned into the movement that our bodies naturally tended toward, focussing on feeling and expression rather than aesthetics. At the end of the workshop, I asked each participant to share a word that captured how they felt, and I would like to share those with you today.

Accepted.

Creative.

Warm.

Content.

Ready.

Silly.

Released.

Powerful.

Joy.

Calm.

Soft.

Lighter.

Listen in, not just out.

Non-performative.

Cleansed.

Whole.

Unjudged.

Motivated.

Free.

The word that stood out to me most was “silly”. I caught up with the member that shared this word a day after class, and I was so excited to see her eyes beaming. She said she couldn’t remember the last time she skipped. She emphasized that we get so few opportunities in the rigidity of adulthood to just move and laugh and play. And I could not agree more.

So, especially as we move into the holiday season, I ask you to dance. Shake off the structure of your day and ask your body, “how do you want to move today?” Skip, run, make silly shapes as you explore whatever space you have. Perhaps take a word from the list above and try to embody. Or maybe you’ll find your own. Make dance your daily medicine, and discover how resilient you can become.