For me the dance floor was a place where I could experience femininity, expression, and sensuality that both my community and upbringing regarded as shameful. I grew up in an environment where to openly express emotions was looked down upon, let alone movement and being in tune with self expression. Reputation and perception of what others thought was held on a pedestal, so to go to a place to move freely and do what was considered taboo was riveting. In day to day life people’s expressions and interactions because of social structures can be predictable, even calculated, but on the dance floor people sang and moved without inhibition. The lack of inhibition made me feel like those around me and myself could remove the societal mask and see the raw humanness in others. There are so many paradoxes of emotions that exist on the dance floor. There can be people who are plagued with sadness and loneliness, but also those who are experiencing pure joy and connectedness. I always loved being in the middle of a place where energy was exchanged. From being in a very restricted environment to finally being old enough to go dancing and experience movement without limitations, i felt liberated.