Why You Should Choose Dance - From a Graduating Senior

If you asked me a few years ago why I dance, I probably would’ve said something simple like “because I enjoy it” or “I’ve always done it”. But now, looking back as a graduating senior, it’s a lot more than that.

Dance kind of becomes a constant in your life without you even realizing it. No matter what’s going on, whether it’s stress at school, at home, or something else, you walk into the studio, and you know what to expect. It’s somewhere you can focus on something completely different, and that consistency ends up meaning a lot more than you’d think.

But honestly, the biggest reason I’d tell someone to choose dance isn’t even about the dancing itself, even though it’s pretty good. But it’s the people.

You end up surrounded by people who are going through the same things as you: long rehearsals, competition weekends, late nights, high stress, and it brings everyone closer in a way that’s hard to explain unless you’ve experienced it. You learn how to support each other, how to push each other, and how to be part of a team even when you’re performing individually. Not only are the friends you meet along the way, but it’s also the many teachers and mentors that cross your path. Who always wants what is best for you, who pushes you to be your best selves, and watches every performance backstage. It is important to surround yourself with people who will allow you to grow.

Throughout dance, you learn a lot about yourself. Things like discipline, how to take corrections without taking them personally, how to keep going when you’re tired, and how to handle pressure. Those are things that stick with you way beyond the studio.

And it’s not about being perfect. Believe me, no one is. It’s more about showing up, being loyal, putting in the work, and improving. That’s something that dance teaches you pretty quickly.

So if you are thinking about joining or are unsure, I’d say try it. You don’t have to be the best in the room. You just have to be willing to learn and be part of it.

Because at the end of it all, you don’t just leave with dances and good technique. You leave with experiences, habits, and people that stay with you long after you’re done competing.

And that is what makes it worth it.