By Zaynah Almasri ‘27
The Latin and Ballroom Dance Team just had their third annual showcase, and I got to be a part of it woohoo! Dancing on stage alongside people who started as teammates but have become real friends, I felt this mix of excitement, pride, and pure joy. It wasn’t just about performing—it was about everything that led up to it: the long practices, the laughter, the mistakes we turned into progress, and the energy we built together.
Our weekly practices mean so much to me. They’re the part of my week where I can let my guard down. No matter what kind of day I’ve had, I know I can walk into that room, hear the music start, and just let loose. I laugh more there than almost anywhere else. It’s one of the few places where I’m not overthinking—I’m just moving, connecting, and enjoying the moment. Over time, those shared moments turned into friendships that feel really genuine and important to me.
Being part of this team also introduced me to the depth and beauty of Latin American culture in a way I hadn’t experienced before. Learning dances like salsa and bachata isn’t just about steps—it’s about feeling. There’s a passion, a kind of emotional openness, that really changed how I think about expression. I found myself drawn to that energy, wanting to understand it more deeply.
That’s actually what pushed me to take three semesters of Spanish. I wanted to connect more with the language and the culture behind the music we were dancing to. And the more I learned, the more I started noticing connections to my own background. Coming from an Arab cultural context, I saw similarities in how both cultures value music, rhythm, and emotional expression. There’s a shared sense of intensity and warmth, of using art as a way to bring people together. That realization made the experience even more meaningful—it wasn’t just about learning something new, but also about seeing parts of myself reflected in it.
The showcase felt like a celebration of all of that. Not just choreography, but growth. Not just performance, but community. It reminded me how much this team has given me—not only a creative outlet, but a sense of belonging and that’s something I’ll carry with me long after the music stops.
