Life Lessons from the Dance Floor

inspirational musings from a dancing scientist

  • Turns in Dance and Life

    Turns in Dance and Life

    Basic moves in Viennese Waltz are natural (clockwise) and reverse (counterclockwise) turns, with change steps (a three-count connecting figure) in between. As my ballroom dance teacher has been breaking these down for me to practice, I’ve been reflecting once again on how dance mirrors life.

    With my family life, I view getting married and having children as natural turns. Those life transitions followed expectations, and might have appeared to flow as easily as a standard Waltz, despite their challenges. On the other hand–estrangements, chronic illness, divorce, and empty nest transition were change steps and reverse turns that threw me off balance and made me stumble and falter.

    In my education, graduating from elementary to middle to high school to college to grad school were natural turns. My hard work propelled me through the grades, as dedicated practice makes the Foxtrot look deceptively effortless when dancers float around the ballroom. School vacations and breaks were change steps, necessary to take a few breaths before pivoting to the next sequence of moves.

    My intense scientific career also flowed easily for me with extremely hard work, akin to a fast Viennese Waltz (typically danced at a tempo of 180 beats per minute). Promotions and awards were natural turns, and temporary position details (lateral assignments) were change steps. A dramatic reverse turn was unexpected early retirement, when the federal workforce was downsized in 2025. That sent me reeling, until I regained balance in my new phase of life focused on creative endeavors.

    Turns in both dance and life can be exhilarating, challenging, and rewarding. Even though reverse turns may feel unnatural, resisting them can be detrimental — and they are an important part of the dance, in the ballroom and in life!

    Which change steps and turns have made the most impact in your life?

  • Dance Therapy

    Dance Therapy

    [[Note: this post was written in May, 2024]]

    Dancing is my preferred form of therapy. Heartbroken and fresh in the shock of betrayal that ended a three year relationship, I forced myself to attend a West Coast swing class followed by a social dance. It was out of my comfort zone and I was numb in mourning, but proud of myself for getting out, interacting with others, and enjoying movement. The following week I participated in group ballroom lessons, private ballroom lessons, and a ballroom/Latin social dance. I was feeling slightly lighter, though I broke down crying with my teacher when I couldn’t master the Viennese steps and had to excuse myself during a waltz with a stranger at the social dance when a “trigger song” that tugged at my heartstrings was played.

    Weeks later, I felt emotionally lighter and physically stronger in my private lessons. I was joking and laughing with my teacher, and mastered the tricky Viennese steps we were working on. I felt a little less raw when dancing to another trigger song. After my women’s adult tap class I realized my brain was thinking less about my breakup for longer stretches of time. I could tell from my dancing — which requires mind, heart, body, and soul — that with each passing week, grief was working its way through those so that I could return to myself again.

    A month later I attended a women’s retreat at the ocean. It was a joyous few days of reconnecting with myself and over 40 amazing women. We walked the beach, did yoga, made a craft, hiked in the forest, played games, did a writing activity, sang songs, and chatted over meals. And on Saturday night, we danced for hours. We danced and laughed with abandon in a big circle around a large djembe drum. We danced to disco, Motown, salsa, and pop hits from various decades. We took turns dancing in the middle and banging the drum. We bonded through the joy of expressive movement. I went to sleep exhausted and energized, and dreamt of choreographing a group dance number. The next morning, everyone shared something they do when they need spiritual renewal. Most of the responses were spending time with friends, walking in nature, and dancing. My answer was dancing.