“Social dancing brought me out of a difficult time in my life”
For a long time, everything was about being a ballet dancer for me.
I woke up every morning knowing I would one day be dancing as the soloist at the Mariinsky.
At age 9 was when I got really serious. I was going to 3 ballet schools, training all day from 9am-8pm. Homework would be done in the car and weekends were used for catching up on school. It was full time dance training.
A few years later, I even moved back to my hometown of St. Petersburg, Russia to continue my dream and further my ballet training.
But during my final year of studies at the ballet academy, my previously clear path became more and more rocky. I was struggling with many injuries combined with the drama of the ballet world that came along with being a soloist dancer. For the first time in my life, everything seemed uncertain.
Even though I was still dancing ballet, I began searching for another outlet. To find a source of happiness and joy. I found salsa & social dancing which became a little light in an otherwise dark time.
After graduating, I made a tough decision to move back to the US – and for the first time, I felt lost. Even though I was still pursuing a dance related career in choreography, a large part of my identity was gone.
I started to tell people, “I USED to be a professional ballet dancer”
And for a whole year, I was shut down and closed off. I barely left the house and only talked to friends remotely.
Finally, one day my parents pushed me to get out, be social, and perhaps join some salsa classes. I wasn’t convinced that dancing was going to be the answer to finding myself again.
But I went out anyway. I grabbed my friend Anastasia and we drove around town until we stumbled on the Princeton Salsa Club.
Watching the dancers from the outside, I thought, “Wow, those people are having a great time!” but I just couldn’t bring myself to go in.
Yet, the next week, we went back. And again, we only watched from the outside.
On the 3rd week, the dancers inside finally spotted us and pulled us in…
…And it was the best thing to happen!
The people at the club were so kind and welcoming. The community took me in and it turned out to be just what I needed to feel alive again. I had such a fun time that I started dancing every night. I had found that source of happiness and joy.
Not only was my passion for dance reignited, I was transformed with a new sense of self. The amazing people I’ve met social dancing are still some of my dearest friends. They’ve helped change my life and set me on the path I’m on today.
And all I had to do was walk through that door!
It would be years before I realized how significant it was, to have social dancing bring me out of a difficult time in my life.
And after experiencing the transformation from such a warm and welcoming dance community, it became my dream to build that community for everyone that needs dance in their life.
So whether you’re going through tough times, want to learn a new skill, or looking for that fun and loving group of people…
Call or email us to join our community and walk through that door to start YOUR transformation today!
