The Many Gifts of Dance

This will help you understand why I love dancing so much. I wrote this article entitled "The Many Gifts of Dance" for the December issue of the Go Dance newsletter:

Prior to February of this year, I had never stepped foot into a dance studio; I had never seen "Dancing with the Stars" on TV; and I had certainly never imagined calling myself a "dancer". But last year, after my life took a wild left turn on me, a thoughtful and generous friend gave me a gift certificate for dance lessons. Not a week later, I found myself standing on the ballroom floor at Go Dance for my first salsa lesson with David Abril.

Here I am, almost a year later, preparing to dance a salsa "spotlight" routine with David in the upcoming Winter Showcase. How I got from there to here, I'm not really sure... I'm not one that likes to be in the spotlight, yet that's exactly what I'm doing on December 14th.

What I do know is that learning to dance has transformed my life from the inside out. I have more self-confidence from overcoming the physical and mental challenges I've faced during this process. I have more self-discipline—they say the hardest part is just showing up, right? Well, Iíve certainly found that to be true. I feel more feminine and self-expressed from learning the ìartî of following and incorporating fancy styling into my dancing. I'm more courageous overall, especially on the dance floor and in social settings. I laugh more... yes, with others, but most importantly, at myself. I get out of the house more—there's always someplace to go out dancing in Austin! My body is stronger, especially my core, which has helped me with my back pain. And, I have made lots of new friends—both on the staff and in the classroom. I truly feel blessed to be a part of this amazing community. And to think... all of this would not have been possible without the thoughtfulness and generosity of my friend.

For me, performing in Showcase will be a highlight of my life and one of my proudest accomplishments. I really encourage you to give the gift of dance this holiday season. You may find out a year later that it was one of the greatest gifts of their life.

Today, I don't just call myself a dancer—I am a dancer, and I know that dance will always be a part of my life. (Thank you, Jim Roberson. I'm forever grateful.)

Benefits of learning to dance:

• Self-Confidence
• Poise and Posture
• Self-Discipline
• Friendship & Fun
• Social Skills
• Community
• Health & Fitness
• Lifelong Memories

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Today: I cannot say enough about Mylie Arnold (the owner of Go Dance) and the wonderful group of people that make up the staff at Go Dance! I don't get over there as much as I used to, but I am a changed person because of the experiences I've had there.

If you're interested in putting more fun, sizzle and sass in your life, there's truly nothing better than DANCING!