June 21 2025 - Dance it out: Teaching the elephant to fly

Fun fact about me: I didn't always love to dance. In fact I hated it! I didn't understand the purpose and love for parties. I was happy in my bedroom, where salsa and reggaeton music was banned (the only place in Cuba where I could control the absence of those genres). Only rock was allowed. So if my friends wanted to hang out with me, they knew the rules, they needed to listen to Guns n Roses. 

I was very shy and still am in many ways (you wouldn't guess it maybe now), and ironically enough, my mom landed me in an art school where I would have to perform constantly. In front of people! I got myself a lizard support animal. She accompanied me in my “concerts”. Performing in any way  gave me anxiety attacks. I would only feel comfortable in front of my mom, teacher and my dog Peggy (who for some reason loved listening to me playing piano)

I would later on, be kinda of forced to learn salsa, or casino (how Cubans call it), due to peer pressure. More specifically, boyfriend pressure (Hiroshi) and so I started learning. I still remember how uncomfortable and awkward that was. It was like trying to get a rigid stick to behave like a soft and wavy branch. It was unnatural. But I endured it. I learned the steps. Tried to make my hips move too … and to look feminine and graceful… (still working on that), and coordinated!!

Later in University as a challenge to myself, and again, peer pressure and also as a way to process a breakup, I decided to participate in the biggest “rueda de casino” in cuba at the time, attempting to break a Guinness record I think. It was fun! I also participated in a few parties.. Dragged by my very dancing friend: Zenia. 

But then, something happened. I left my country. Landed in this very different culture..(Poland), where curiously enough… They loved the Spanish language and salsa music.  Right out of the bat I met someone who would become my long lasting friend (Pucha) who loved salsa and dancing more than anything. And one day I caught myself standing up at the sound of salsa and started dancing. Like my body was in charge, I caught myself listening to salsa and smiling. I guess, it's like those things… that connect you to a memory, a happy place , faster than your brain can process… by the senses like smell, sound, touch or flavour. In this case by music. And so, a new species of Midia was emerging. The one that smiled at salsa and danced (after drinking!). 

Why the change? I imagine it all came down to feeling less observed and judged and evaluated. Inside of me was a person who wanted to dance, but was terrified of how people would perceive this awkward twig moving. I knew instinctively I was not good. It was “not in my blood” like those other cubans I guess (i blame my mother, she is not cuban). And being out of my country kinda liberated me from those “imaginary” judging and observing eyes, where everyone dances so well. And so… I felt free to mess up and dance terribly. And I discovered it was fun. So my elephant broke a few chains… 

Then fast forward to Canada, when I started to dance even without alcohol (although it still looks like I'm drugged or crazy, maybe on alcohol I look more”normal”) Then I was introduced to EDM by a “Pedro guy” and here I am. Dancing it out. Dancing is now for me a form of existing. It's a tool that shifts my energy and mood and mind. It's fun. It makes me happy. A form of connecting with my body without the brain interface. Just feel and do. And it's more. It's letting go of caring how I am perceived by others. It's a rebellion I guess, against the voices of judgment of others and my own. It's breaking free. It's not about looking pretty or cool. It's about allowing my body to move however it feels. 

I will rarely care in a venue about the sound quality, about the look of the place, the lights and the show. I care about how I feel and connect with the music, the moment and the people around me. 

So yay to my elephant therapy. Yay to teach my elephant how to fly!