UMA Journals

Journal entry by Amy!

The UMA Journal is a new collection of entries from some of our community members! They share about their class experience at UMA, dance journeys in general, life thoughts, passions, musings- whatever! We love getting to know more about our community!

Check out this first entry by UMA regular Amy! Amy is a Laurel- class regular. Learn more about how she got into dance and where it has taken her!

Dance: My COVID Silver Lining
by Amy
​ 
My one-year dancing anniversary just passed. It's hard to describe in words how the decision to move my body through dance has changed me. Dancing makes my heart happy.
 
I used to catch glimpses of classes during the many years I hung out at UMA while the kids I cared for danced their afternoons away in the Movemakers program. I'd peruse the UMA adult classes schedule and imagine myself joining one of the Salsa or Bachata classes. "Yeah, right," I'd think. "I'm going to mess up all the steps and make a complete fool of myself."
 
When COVID hit, along with everything else, it changed my exercise routine. I was impressed with how fast fitness studios transitioned to online classes. UMA was one of the first to begin the foray into online learning and I got to see their process through the Movemakers program, where the kids I took care of began to dance at home on Zoom. 
 
For me, UMA's online classes presented a unique opportunity: I could now take a dance class without actually stepping foot inside the studio. I remember the morning that I took a deep breath before clicking the "Sign Up Now" button for Laurel's Latin House livestream class. That class was challenging. And fun! Most importantly, I felt safe to move my body within the comfort of my own home. After that, I thought, "what the hell" and signed up for Reggaeton as well as the Solo Salsa classes. My weekly schedule was beginning to fill up with dancing.
 
All through the winter I danced online. In the spring, after getting vaccinated, I took my first in-studio dance class. I don't know if I would have ever have made it there without the help of online instruction. 
 
I'm so glad to be where I am and to have found this space Thank you, UMA, for the opportunity to take live streamed classes and build up the skills and courage I needed to get into the studio! And a special thanks to Laurel for her amazing instruction and endless positivity. I'm looking forward to seeing the progress that another year brings.

Thanks so much to Amy for sharing!