Unleashing Confidence: Willow's Dance Journey from Age 3

It's Willow here, and today I want to take you on a journey through my dance experience. From starting out as a three-year-old to becoming a more confident and skilled dancer, it's been quite a ride!

Hi, my name is Willow, and I'm 13 years old.

How long have you been dancing?

I started dancing when I was three years old, so it's almost 11 years now.

How has your experience progressed?

When I first started dancing, I don't really remember it because I was three years old,

but I think it was more like a fun thing to do. As I got older and when I started competition, that's when I was like, Oh, I really like this! I want to focus on it rather than just like an after school activity.

How does that make you feel to be more experienced now?

As I got older, I feel I'm definitely a better dancer and I feel it's easier to do things and I don't have to work as hard, but I still have to work hard for other things. I'm not scared to do it because I know I'm capable of doing it.

What does it feel like to walk on stage?

When I was younger, I was really stressed out about going on stage. I don't know why,

but, as I've gotten older, I'm more comfortable doing it because I've been doing it longer.

What is your favorite dance and how do you feel when you're in it?

My favorite style is probably contemporary because I feel more comfortable in that. But I also really like hip hop because it's not easier to do, but it's easier to go harder with it without looking frantic. In contemporary, you can't really be super sharp with everything that you're doing.

When you're in the middle of a dance, what is going through your mind?

I tend to not really think and just really focus on my breathing and trying to get through the dance rather than the movement itself.

How often do you practice?

During the school year and dance season, I am at dance Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.

How is practice different than when you're on stage?

When I'm at the dance studio, I'm really more focused on having more fun. But when I am on stage, I really want to focus on my technique and stuff because that's what the judges really look at.

Do you ever have an off day? How do you fix it?

When I have an off day, I really just take a moment and think through it. It's not the end of the world if I mess up. There's always another chance to do it again. So I usually like to breathe through it.

Do you think it's all mindset or is it ever physical?

It depends. If I'm having a bad day like if I'm not very flexible that day, I like to stretch out

more and just focus on breathing through stretches. But if it's like an emotional thing,

I like to breathe through it if it's more of a mindset.

What advice would you give to a dancer who is just starting out or that is scared to begin?

My advice would be it's okay to mess up because I mess up too, and I'm pretty sure everyone does and just keep working really hard and if you really want to do it, just go for it and it's okay if you fall because you can just get back right up.