Joanna Zhao, G8, RDF International School

Dance has been a most enjoyable and enriching experience throughout my childhood, helping me to build confidence and achieve mindfulness.

As a timid 6-year-old, unsure of my potential, I was unhappy. Lacking self-assurance, doubts consumed me, and melancholy and disappointment accompanied my every step. One fateful day, my eyes were captivated by a Latin dance poster on the wall of a street corner. My mother, noticing my intrigue, gently asked, “Would you like to learn Latin dance?” Overwhelmed by fear of trying something new and then failing at it, I quickly turned away, silently shaking my head. Upon returning home, I switched on the television, attempting to shift my focus. However, an advertisement for a Latin dance competition led me back to the subject. Sensing my thoughts, my mother encouraged me to embrace a new experience. With her urging, I found the resolve to learn Latin dance.

At the beginning, it was painful, because such stretching trainings as splits would often bring me to tears. I was clumsy and my classmates’ laughter brought me embarrassment, but I came to realize that this was something that has to be endured by every beginner in dancing. With weeks of dedicated practice, I gradually honed new moves and techniques.

A few months later, my teacher, impressed with my progress, encouraged me to participate in a competition. I spent many hours practicing tirelessly, even wearing holes in my pantyhose. Unfortunately, I had a fever before the competition. On the competition day, I danced with my partner for three rounds with a high fever and despite the odds, we won eighth place.

Years of pursuing Latin dance have fostered within me a newfound confidence to explore the unknown, strengthening my bonds with people around me. Moreover, the awards I have won at dance competitions have brought me happiness and satisfaction. Latin dance awakens my emotions, allowing me to channel them through movement. It also gives me a unique way of expressing myself and telling my story.