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470 Noble Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06608, USA

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Bridgeport, Connecticut is home to the brand-new dance studio. Since Double Up held such a special place in my heart, I can't enjoy dancing in the new studio and I actually strongly dislike this place. Even though dance makes me so happy, there are still many difficulties and aspects I don't enjoy. Without it, I'm still unsure of what I would do. I'm really grateful that my mother made me take dance classes because I wouldn't be where I am today without it. It makes me so happy and I really like attending the classes. Dance is something that makes me cope in many situations. Without dance I would be so bored and empty. I have a kind of almost explicable liberation when I dance, allowing a river of my emotions to flow. The moments we dance reveal everything we don't talk about, even with the people closest to me, and things we don't even consider. It's an escape from the turbulent world outside, a possible horrific reality, the anguish, and the grief I've been holding inside of me. It reveals who I really am, not the mask I put on, not the phony laughter and smiles, perhaps even the artificial grief you don't feel, but just who you really are and what you really feel. Everyone can express anything without inhibitions through dance. You have so much to say but never utter a single word. If you are feeling sad, dancing can lift your spirit and share your story. When I am sad I dance. When I am happy I dance. When I am angry I dance. To me dance means happiness and how I express my emotions. And it means, it's me. Trends and negativity abound in the world. But I can leave this world behind when I dance. More than a trophy or a medal, dance has given me a passion. I've discovered that dancing is more than just something to watch for other people's amusement. Dancing is for the dancer as well. By allowing us to communicate the feelings inside of us, it can aid in stress relief. I also don't communicate well with others. I'm afraid of opening up and being shot down and emotionally broken. Dance is my way of connecting with others. To me, dance is like your favorite video game; no matter how many times you play it, it never gets old. I dance for those who couldn't afford an escape like dance and needed something or someone to understand what they were going through.

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2205 Black Rock Turnpike, Fairfield, CT 06825, USA

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It was really terrible for me because I didn't know when I would be able to relocate to my favorite nation, America, in March of 2020 because the country shut down just a few days before my departure. As a result, my family was detained in India for five months. In an effort to book a flight to New York, we spent those five months making trips to the American embassy. On July 28th, we finally obtained a ticket, and I will always remember that day. The happiest day of my life. Even though I really wanted to move to America, I despised moving to a new country since it was so difficult to adjust to. I started by looking for dance lessons and visiting the Double Up Dance Studio. Hip-hop was never a class that was offered at my studio in India, despite the fact that I've always wanted to try it. Luckily, the double up dance studio had a variety of styles taught at their place. It is an underground studio that is situated on black rock. It has gold doors, and being next to a swim school causes it to smell strongly of chlorine. When I first arrived in America three years ago, this dance studio was my first stop. I continued going there for the next three years until they closed, which was a very difficult farewell and made this dance studio very significant to me. For a few weeks after they found a new place to rent, I was unable to move on. I had made dancing my top focus, so it was really difficult for me to move on.

In my class, I made some of my closest friends, including Ashley. She exudes the best vibe everywhere she goes and is likable to everyone. Every Tuesday and Thursday, she drives me to dancing class because that is when we have practice. Because we have no shared acquaintances, our car drives are the best part of the ride because we turn up the music and become locked in for our dance class. We also talk about our lives most of the time. Despite having a significant age gap, we still have a lot in common. She is of Dominican descent and has extremely curly hair. Ashley supports me and significantly improves my enjoyment of dancing, enhances my own growth. I've always felt safe in the dance class, where I can test my abilities and push myself past my comfort level.

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Montfort School, Yercaud, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India

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When I was 7 years old, my parents sent me to a boarding school for 4 years, and I thought my aspirations had been dashed because I would never be able to attend Danceworx again. Before the start of the school year at my boarding school, I cried for months. After a 3 hour flight and a 5 hour drive, it took me 8 hours to get to my boarding school from Mumbai. The State of Tamil Nadu in the southern region of India served as the location. During my four years at the School of Montfort, I took dance classes, but as it was a typical Indian school, there was no jazz or ballet taught there; instead, they only taught classical Indian dance, which I detested but had to do because some classes were required. Due to my extensive dance background, I was also consistently chosen to perform the dances. The fact that they were so rigid and the educational system was so flawed made me loathe this place.

My aspirations for America were so great that each year, despite my parents' silence, I would tell my friends that I was relocating there. I would always say goodbye to my friends in an emotional manner, acting as though I would never see them again, but I would always return the following year. I continued to say I was moving to America every year, but after three years, my friends stopped believing me and started making fun of me for lying. During my winter break my parents shocked me by announcing our impending move to America in the summer. I couldn't believe it and was in full disbelief. When I returned from winter vacation, I told all of my pals, but nobody believed me. My biggest desire was coming true, and none of my friends could celebrate with me, which made me incredibly unhappy.

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St. Stanislaus High School, Hill Road, Ranwar, Bandra West, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

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I left Italy when I was five years old and traveled to India. I've been dancing since I was two years old, but because I was so young, I don't really recall my dance adventures in Italy. I attended dance classes at the Danceworx dance facility; I'm originally from Mumbai, India. I was really happy when I was at the danceworx dance studio. At the danceworx studio, I practiced ballet and jazz. It revealed a side of me that I had no idea existed. The studio got me going and inspired me to think about moving to America and enrolling in dance classes in New York City. It was the first dance class I ever attended, and I have danced here my entire life. I always consider how much danceworx has impacted me when I reflect on my dance career. Being so young when I started this program may have made it seem like it didn't have as much of an impact on me, but it's crucial that I approach it with the right attitude. I've discovered over the past few months how important mindset is and how it can alter your entire course of events. I used to be the shyest, most insecure introvert ever, but my mindset caused everything to change. One of my main goals was to "fake it until you make it." I did the same with dance, and it had a significant impact on my confidence.I started from the back corner of the room and worked my way to the front of the class, which made me realize how much I've grown because I never expected the 2021 version of myself to do that.