Reaching The Point of No Return

There comes a point in every freestyle dancer's journey where you realize that there's no turning back. Everything that once mattered seems to melt away. And suddenly, you've become innately aware of who you are when you move. We spend many hours training and sharpening our technique. We study and analyze our role models. And we stay up late at night until the early hours of the morning, dreaming about how to express our souls through our artform. You know how this feels if you've been there. How naked it feels to bare your soul. Somehow, you've now become your own dancer. You're authentic and putting your true self out there.

This seems to be the Holy Grail that all freestyle dancers search for. We seek originality but it's hard to find. And in a media-drenched, hyper-visualized world; it's hard to step away from the digital noise and find yourself. But maybe it's not so hard if we take time to reflect and explore our souls in solitude and private quarters. Writers can jot their thoughts down in a stream-of-consciousness manner. Musicians can jam in long fits of inspiration. As dancers, we groove and explore movement concepts that are shaped by the music around us. Let's celebrate the power of finding yourself in the quietness.

Take a look at the mirror. You may see a reflection, but it's only that. Take a closer look and you'll see glimpses of your soul as you keep gazing. It's hard to look deeply, especially with someone else when we are challenged to be intimate. When you dance, can you imagine staring into the mirror and seeing your soul's reflection? It's an abstract concept but one that makes sense when you let yourself go. Celebrate that moment when you encounter it. Treasure it in your heart. There may be the beginnings of the next phase of your artist's journey. You are coming into your own. You're becoming your own dancer.