“I see dance being used as communication between body and soul, to express what is too deep, and too fine for words. ” –Ruth St. Denis. This quote embodies everything that I believe in and have experienced. I believe in Irish dance and its power to heal all wounds. To me, Irish dance is a way to express what is not able to be said, and is only able to be understood through dance. Through all my trials and tribulations, and even through my most joyful experiences, I have danced to express the emotion I was feeling.
I find peace in the rhythm of a song, and the way it flows through my body, creating such beauty; and that is what I live for. I live for the moment when I feel the song come to life through my own body; a feeling that is so indescribable, and can only be understood by others who have felt it also. Irish dance is the best way to express emotion, whether it’s anger, sadness, despair, love, hate or happiness; it allows the dancer to put their body to motion and convey their true feelings. I feel that through dance, I can show people the side of me that’s not regularly exposed.
Irish dance breaks me down, and shows the more reclusive, personal side of myself. Irish dance calms me and keeps me grounded and sane. Irish dance is my passion, my best friend, and my life. It has helped me discover myself and to work past the struggles in life. I discovered my passion for Irish dance at the age of ten when I saw a video of the World Championship on YouTube. I wasn’t even dancing at the time yet it felt like I knew what they were doing, and I’ve never stopped dancing since then. I love the energy of Irish dance, and it’s always what I go to when I need a pick-me-up.
Going through the loss of my grandmother, great-grandmother, and my uncle, in a matter of five months in 2009, and when my grandpa was diagnosed with cancer in 2012, I turned to dance, and it was the only way I knew I could cope with my loss other than through tears. I would just pick the song that best suited my situation and bring it to life. During the recession, my father received multiple pay cuts and it was very difficult to pay for dance classes while supporting five others. Yet he made it work because he knew how important dance is to me and I’m so grateful.
I am naturally a reclusive person with my emotions; rarely will I express them in front of others. This made life hard to cope with while I was young, but once I found Irish dance, I found my escape, and I found my own personal way of dealing with my own troubles. Everyone has different ways of dealing with things and dance is mine. It’s my escape, and I don’t know where I would be without it. Through Irish dance, I’ve found myself, and I’ve found my drive, and passion to pull through, to hang in there, and to be happy for all the things I’ve been given. Through Irish dance, I’ve found something to believe in, and for that, I’m very thankful.
