Shall we dance?

“Dance is the hidden language of the soul” - Martha Graham

We are all born and bred with music. Even while you are still in your mother's womb, they are playing you some tunes, when you come into the world, they sing you lullabies, while you are growing up, you sing and dance in front of the TV (or at least that's what I was doing). Dancing is one of those "things" that you learn once, and then you can never forget. It's like riding a bike, learn how to swim or play a musical instrument - at first it seems like a challenge, and then it is an inseparable part of your life. Dancing is a way to express yourself, to relax, to go to a place that has become a haven and where the most important thing is to learn and share, where race, language, age and religion do not matter. The only thing that matters is the chemistry between the dancers and the passion you dance with.

I used to dance hip-hop years ago and I will never forget how much fun I had. Once, however, me and a friend of mine went out for dinner to this place, where it turned out to be a salsa event. I watched the dancers with such delight, thinking "If only I could dance like that" . After I moved to Barcelona and the routine started biting hard, I realized that I needed a hobby, something to entertain me. Then it occurred to me that I could perhaps start taking salsa lessons. I found a salsa academy that was near my place and started attending it once a week. In the beginning, salsa classes were something that was just distracting me from my daily tasks. I didn't have that much motivation to go to salsa clubs or any other events of this kind. A few months later, everything changed and I realized that I was part of something magical, something that makes me feel alive, free, beautiful. Something that gives me the ultimate freedom to be myself.

Recently, a friend of mine made a joke about me being part of a sect. When you think about it, dancing can to some extent be defined as a religion, something spiritual, something that elevates you. At first it doesn't matter how well you dance. Great dancers are great not only because of their technique, but mostly because of the passion they dance with. I remember how scared I was the first time someone reached out to me at the club and said: "Shall we dance?" It's been a long time since then, but my excitement is the same ... only my confidence is a little bit higher. I think the recipe for dancing well is to forget your anxiety and just indulge in the magic of dance. Dance is not just art. For many people, dancing is a lifestyle. Dancing is when your soul merges with space. Dancing is a sense of blissfulness. When I dance, I completely forget about the day, the year, where I am or what time it is. Dance makes my heart beat faster.

I asked different people what does dance mean to them. Some are professionals, others not. But the feeling they all transmit, interpreting their love for dance, is the same - a feeling of excitement.

"Dancing means letting go of your problems, go with the flow, feel that nothing else matters but this moment, and have fun." - Nuria, 25, Spain, /Cuban salsa § bachata/

"To me personally, for the past 20 years dancing has literally been a way of life. It's a job, a pleasure, a way of expressing myself ..." - Tsvetan, 35, Bulgaria /hip-hop/

"Dancing means freedom to me. Freedom to express myself and what I feel. It is what makes me want to grow and become better. I've always loved to dance and I believe that's the best exercise for the body and for the spirit. A writer once said, <A dancing man is like a half-mast that can itself cause wind>." - Plamena, 32, Bulgaria /hip-hop § salsa/

"Dance means to test all your emotions and your personality in just 3 minutes, and pass them on to the person you're dancing with, so they can feel what you feel." - Victor, 33, Spain /salsa § bachata/

"Dance is freedom, happiness, passion. While I dance, I don't need words to express what I feel, my body carries itself and expresses all my emotions. For me, dancing is everything and it will always be my companion in life. " - Lorena, 30, Spain /salsa § bachata/

"Dancing is harmonizing the happiness in 7 steps." - Gonzalo, 27, Argentina /salsa § bachata/

"Dancing brings me back to my roots, meetings with friends, Christmas and family gatherings where salsa and joy have always been present ... those moments that I long for to this day. I dance because it is one of the few things that allows me to put my problems and anxieties behind, to forget about time and to be sized by the moment. In addition, dancing has helped me meet so many people with incredible energy, who, without any doubt, occupy an important part in my life." - Jose Lorenzo, 26, Venezuela /salsa § bachata/

"Dancing is the ultimate manifestation of enjoying life. It's about having fun with other people doing something we all love." - Adam, 31, Slovakia /salsa/

"Dancing is my way to escape almost any problem I might have. It reminds me of surfing and the feeling I get when I am inside a wave. Dancing makes me complete." - Alvaro, 27, Spain /salsa § bachata/

"Dance was my way to overcome depression. Therefore, to me it means joy, desire to live, socialize with young people, it gives you a different view of life." - Carmen, 53, Spain /salsa § bachata/

There are dances that we never want to end. You count 1 2 3, 5 6 7, one last chorus and the song is at its end. You're panting, your feet start to surrender, but you want more and more. You inhale the last notes and fly. You get lost and then you find yourself.

What does dancing mean to you?