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Daylin Williams
Dance 261
Professor Ed Austin
December 14, 2015
Personal Treatise on Dance
A true dancer is not molded but born. Anyone can move to the beat of the music, but not
every person can instill a feeling of magic within those who watch through precise and
intentional movement. That is a gift and talent that only some are blessed with during this life. I
believe that if someone is blessed with such a talent, they should cultivate it and share it with the
world. Dance can be an art form, a hobby, or a lifestyle. It is performed with the body and
consists of movement ranging from small and simple to large and complex. Dance, in most
cases, is done to music or some other form of rhythm. It is done as a fine art on stage as well as a
folk art for social or personal purposes.
Dance can be and is often performed on a stage for an audience. It may be with the intent
of entertainment or the intent of showcasing a fine art. Movement, combined with lighting,
costuming, music, and emotion can have a powerful effect on the audience. Dance may also be
done for social and personal purposes. It is done for religious ceremonies, personal enjoyment,
group activities, and much more. Dance is available to all and can be done anywhere, anytime,
with any purpose.
Dance as a hobby and dance as a career are very different worlds. Being a professional
dancer requires self-discipline, determination, hard work, and sacrifice. It demands mental and
emotional fitness as well as physical fitness. Learning to dance is a total body experience. One
cannot fully learn by only watching or only listening. The student must perform and feel the

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body move in order to really learn dance. Learning calls for faith, patience, and understanding.
The pleasures of learning and performing dance are so great that they sometimes mask the
challenges faces along the way. That is why dance draws people in and never loses its grip. There
is never an end to education within dance. There is always something more to learn or something
else to correct. The quest for perfection in dance is a never ending journey that must be taken
with patience.
The body is a magnificent vessel given to us to use while we are here on earth. Despite its
extraordinary functions and elements, it needs love and complete respect. Dance asks our bodies
to do that which is unnatural. This means our bodies will need time to adjust, heal, and digest
what we are asking it to do. When we abandon these responsibilities, injury can take place. An
old dance teacher with a thick Cuban accent always said, Dance is no easy, but is not
impossible. I think the outside world is blind to the amount of work and sacrifice dancers must
go through in their career. Many just see a pretty tutu, not the blood, sweat, and tears underneath
the glittery tulle.
Dance is a somatic experience that combines mind, body, and spirit. All three elements
are integrated to create a 3 dimensional work of art. Because of this, I believe dance can heal. I
believe dance can bring life to a withered soul. It invites light into a darkened mind and carefully
mends a broken heart. Not only is this proven in clinical settings through practices such as Dance
Movement Therapy, but I have also experienced the therapeutic qualities of dance for myself.
When my parents divorced, I felt as though dance was all I had. It kept me sane, supported me in
that difficult time, and let me express myself in a safe manner. If I didnt have dance, I know my
life and my personal trials would be much different, and I am positive many people have
experienced similar situations.

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LDS culture greatly supports the arts. Because of this, I have grown up with a deep
appreciation for dance as well as other art forms. I have learned to use dance as a way to share
my joy with others and to bring the spirit into my life. Elder M. Russel Ballard stated, Inspired
art speaks in the language of Eternity, teaching things to the heart the eyes and ears can never
understand. I dance what is wholesome, clean, pure, and uplifting rather than what will drive
away the spirit. Just as any other medium, dance is taken advantage of by the adversary and
portrayed in a popular light to the rest of the world. Myself, along with other dancers who
appreciate the divinity of art, can share our passion to bring the spirit into the spotlight and
challenge the dark work presented in society.
Dance reveals more about the individual than almost anything else. The vulnerability and
gracious emotional openness witnessed by a dancer is so powerful. Both plain and pleasure can
be seen and internalized through dance. I believe there are more emotions experienced with
dance than can be said with words. Dance can significantly better a persons life. This is not
prejudice to any style of dance. For example, hip hop is used as a sort of community therapy in
many different parts of the world to reduce violence and encourage positive lifestyles to those
suffering from numerous trials. Ballet is also used to introduce young disadvantaged kids to the
arts and give them an outlet to express themselves in a positive manner.
Once someone devoted their heart to dance, their life will never be the same. They will
never be able to completely quit and forget dance; I know this from personal experience. The
summer before my senior year of high school, I received devastating news. I was diagnosed with
a sports hernia and tear in my groin muscle. This of course meant a serious surgery to patch the
tear and reinforce it with mesh so that I can function normally again. The most impactful
moment was when the doctor told me I would never dance again. I felt my heart ripped right out

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of my chest as I imagined my life without dance after spending my entire life as a dancer. Of
course, this only increased my desire to beat the odds and achieve my dream of dancing at BYU.
With hard work and divine intervention, my dream came true. After this experience, I know for
certain I will never be able to completely quit and forget dance after devoting my heart to it.
One of my favorite quotes about dance is by Albert Einstein. He said, Dancers are the
athletes of God. I love this quote because it so simply describes how extraordinary dancing
really is. Its so athletic and demands almost impossible feats from the human body, yet the grace
and pureness it embodies is heaven-like. A true dancer is someone who is mature enough to
reach inside themselves and pull out emotion in their dancing. Repeating movement and telling a
story with your body are two very different things. I love a quote which was said during the
Evidance discussion. Someone said, No amount of technique can make up for no passion, and
no amount of passion can make up for no technique. This is a great point to teach to dancers as
they discover their passions. When good technique is combined with evident passion, a
performance can be magical and memorable.
Dancers and choreographers are some of the most creative people the world can know.
We create works of art with only the human body. We create color with movement and sculpt
beauty with our limbs. Teaching dance is a calling that many feel they have, including myself.
Dance teachers and educators can have a profound influence on their students. I firmly believe
that dance is possible no matter what body shape, height, or build you were born with. We cannot
change or become prejudice to the extraordinary creations of our Heavenly Father. I cannot stress
this enough, and I hope other teachers have a similar philosophy.
Though dance is a detailed subject, it is simply one of the greatest things we can
experience in this life. Dance heals, brings joy, and teaches important lesson applicable to daily

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life. It is done in many settings, for many purposes, and it effects many people. It is perceived
and performed with the human body, integrating mind, body, and spirit. Whether done as a folk
art or a fine art, dance is undeniably extraordinary.