Dance has always been a fear of mine. It was always where I'd find myself hiding away, trying to go unnoticed. That was until I discovered theatre and was able to dance with joy. I am currently an Acting major and Dance Minor with a concentration in musical theatre at Boston University, and dance has become more of a part of my life because of the path I've chosen. I started dancing from a very young age and always loved it, but was unbearably aware I was not amazing. And when I was younger, that seemed to matter. When I found theatre, I quit dance class to continue with acting, which seemed less scary at the time. But I had to face the truth, acting and dancing go hand in hand, and I could not want one without needing the other. I started taking dance classes again in my sophomore year of high school, when I knew I'd be pursuing theatre in college. With the confidence I had gained from theatre, dance was no longer a big, scary monster to fight but a skill to hone. I decided to minor in dance at BU to further my dance training in tandem with my acting training. The dance program at Boston University is small, but very intricate. I am currently enrolled in two classes that contribute to my degree: Dance Styles of the African Diaspora and Aesthetics and Philosophy of Dance. Both courses provide so much insight into the dance world that I've never had before. Not only am I learning the styles of dance, most recently the Charleston and Hip Hop, but I am also learning where they came from, the communities they impact, and their importance in the modern dance world. The program at BU combines the art of dance with the history and intellect behind it, which is very unique and will make me a much better dancer moving forward. I am pursuing this path in combination with acting because I want to be a successful performing artist. I believe that to be on the level I want to, to reach the success of my role models, I need to train in every area of the performing arts that I can. Dance has made me freer to move my body and take ownership of it. I no longer need to be afraid or ashamed of my body and what it can do. I can embrace it. I may not be the most amazing dancer in the world, but that does not diminish the joy it brings me and my enthusiasm to pursue it in and beyond my college education. In order to be an artist and pursue the very thing that makes me happiest in the world, I know I need to be well-rounded and well-educated.