How Dance Transformed My Emotional Well-Being?

When you think of emotional wellbeing and popular modalities of expressing and releasing one’s emotions, what is the first thing that comes to mind? For some, it may be meditation. For others talk therapy… walks in nature, yoga, breathwork or even taking an ice bath. We may miss the fact that one of the earliest, most fundamental mechanisms for expressing feelings is dance.

Using Dance as an Expression: My story

I began dancing two years ago to rediscover the soft, feminine version of myself that had been hidden beneath layers of protective masculine energy. Years of feeling emotionally unsafe had created an armour that I mistakenly perceived as strength, and others saw as defensiveness. Dance has become a vital part of my life, continuously enhancing my emotional wellbeing and enriching my relationships.

I chose a dance style that embodies polarity: a leader who guides each movement and a follower who creates beauty and flow. This dynamic resembles a painter and a brush, together crafting beautiful colours and shapes on the dance floor. Despite appearances, following is hard. Leading is too, of course, but in different ways. While leading requires decisiveness and skill, following requires trust and surrender. Allowing myself the permission to flow like water, embracing each movement without resistance or anticipation, fully immersed in the energy of the present moment. Over time, I learned to quiet my mind, trust the process, my partner, and myself, allowing my body to move freely in dance, which ultimately set my spirit free.

For me, dance is no longer just a movement; it is a powerful expression of emotional wellbeing. There is nothing more liberating than being in the arms of someone who knows where to lead you. This experience helped me reconnect with a part of myself that had been missing, cultivating self-awareness and peace I never knew existed. In the absence of words and instructions, my mind could roam free, and my body could simply follow my partner’s lead, creating beauty and harmony. With eyes closed, I could see who and where I was meant to be.

As a form of therapy, dance offers a unique outlet for emotional wellbeing, facilitating self-discovery and healthy interdependence. Once a hyper-independent woman—a sign of masculine wounds—dance provided the safe space I needed to learn that it’s okay to relinquish control. I found empowerment in allowing others to lead and support me, embracing the thrill of being swept off my feet, confident that someone would always be there to catch me if I fell.

Dance and emotional wellbeing

Since the dawn of humanity – as far as we can look into our history – we’ve found evidence of bodies moving in flowy, ecstatic poses, enraptured by rhythm, in what usually is as close to a state of bliss as we can imagine. Dance has always played a pivotal role in sacred, often religious ceremonies, either to appease or entice the gods or to connect with the divine inside of us.

It is also one of the most powerful aphrodisiacs and a pretty much universal flirting technique, a biological technology for perpetuating our species. I see dance as both a physical and spiritual gift, given to us to help us find the two things we need most: balance and connection.

Dance offers a rich experience of the world through its structure, rhythm, and the learning of sequences, helping us develop coordination and muscle isolation. In partner dancing, we not only follow or lead but also shift our weight to create beautiful shapes and movements. Spiritually, dance transcends the physical, forging deep connections. When we watch a solo dancer, we witness more than mere movement; we see a love story unfolding between the dancer and their divine self. Each movement, perfectly rehearsed or spontaneous, becomes an ephemeral glimpse into the dancer’s emotional state. Ultimately, dance is a celebration of both our physical abilities and our spiritual essence.

To create optimal emotional wellbeing, it is important that we balance our masculine and feminine energies, and dance might just be the answer to that. Through dance, I’ve discovered the profound impact it can have on one’s emotional wellbeing, reinforcing the idea that movement can lead to healing and connection. People no longer tell me, “When I first saw you, I thought you were unapproachable” (yeah, that’s what a masculine shield looks like); instead, they feel safe to share their innermost feelings. Embracing my feminine side has enabled me to ask for help, be vulnerable, and fall in love. Ultimately, dance has helped me uncover a softer, more flexible version of myself that I cherish more each day.

Embracing the art of dance not only nurtures our emotional wellbeing but also fosters deeper connections with ourselves and others. As we allow ourselves to move freely and expressively, we create a space for growth, healing, and authenticity. By integrating dance into our lives, we can cultivate a harmonious balance between our energies, leading to richer experiences and more fulfilling relationships. Let us continue to explore the transformative power of movement, celebrating the journey toward emotional wellbeing together.

Photo Credits:
First image: cienpies
Second image: Georgii Boronin

References

Zhang, X., & Wei, Y. (2024a). The Role of Dance Movement Therapy in Enhancing Emotional Regulation: A Literature Review. Heliyon, 10(15), e35733–e35733. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e35733

Valentina Tudose

About the author

Valentina Tudose is a Relationship Coach and Clinical Hypnotherapist passionate about helping her clients create Extraordinary Relationships. She supports people dealing with a broad range of issues – from dating struggles to post-divorce, helping them reframe limiting beliefs, enhance confidence, resolve conflicts, develop their communication skills and Rewrite their Love Map to create the life and relationship of their dreams.