From Shy to Spicy: Overcoming Introversion Through Latin Dance

As Sofia continued to practice Latin day after day, time took timidity away from that six-year-old girl and rewarded her what she deserved.

A spotlight hit center stage where a young lady stood in crossed-leg position, waiting for the music to begin. A hush fell over the audience. A smile showed on her rosy lips.

The folds of her black velvet dress fell over her crossed legs. Shoulders pushed back, slender arms outstretched, she held the perfect posture as her chest rose and fell against the tight fabric.

As she pushed off her back leg to slide-walk, rolled from the ball of the foot to the inside edge of the big toe, turning out the foot to create a straight line from the toe to the hips. I was immediately attracted to the charm her dance posited. I could hardly believe this was the shy girl that I had known since sixth grade.

Sofia often seemed to be the more introverted one in our friendship: hardly speaking in front of the crowd, always a “follower”, withdrawing and not knowing what to do when she had to lead a team... Then I saw the glamorous side of her on stage when she was performing Latin dance.

Out of appreciation and curiosity I asked her what she has accomplished as a Latin dancer and how it has made her who she is today.

“When I was little, I first tried folk dance and ballet, but I wasn’t so into them. Then a friend of my mother recommended Latin dance to me, showing us a video of my teacher when he participated in a competition. The elegant gentleman confidently strode into the center. His whole body began to dance to the rhythm when the music sounded. I was deeply impressed by his confidence. He seemed so charismatic.”

When I asked why she favored Latin dance, Sofia answered, "Many of my friends think that this does not fit my personality - that I would be better suited for ballet. You see - that's exactly why I chose Latin dance. With my teacher as a role model, I hope to subdue my introversion and make myself the more outgoing and social person that I wished for. On a side note, Latin dance also fits my situation very well as its intensity makes up for my lack of regular exercise.”

Sofia in the Dance Studio

10 years of dancing has not waned her passion and instead rewarded her in many ways.

“There are so many people who used to be my dance classmates but gave up due to multiple reasons. Obstacles of the past did not stop me,” she said.

Over the years, she encountered many physical challenges, including muscle soreness, injuries, as well as increasing academic pressure. However, Sofia saw these in a positive light. She believed that they are inevitable when trying to pursue a goal.

When I encounter these challenges, I try to calmly accept them, deal with them and continue my practice. I’m glad my dance studio provides me with a warm and loving environment where I always feel supported and safe.

Gradually, Sofia built up her confidence and started to participate in Latin dance competitions. New challenges arose.

“Since Latin dance is a type of dance that requires much outspoken enthusiasm and confidence, I was kind of looked down on by other dancers because of my timidity when I first competed. Once, I should have been the first to enter the stadium, but nervousness made me hesitate while two girls behind me squeezed by me and took my place."

That experience made me realize the importance of having faith in myself and the confidence to subdue my opponents.

When I asked her how she was able to overlook the discouragement of not being "number one" in these competitions, she replied, "The thought of becoming a more confident and generous person motivates me every time I think about quitting. I hope that one day I can become a charismatic dancer like my teacher. Since different postures are required when dancing different Latin dances, only perfect, beautiful posture can make the whole dance look smooth."

Sofia Enjoys Herself When Dancing

Apart from sharing her personal story with me, Sofia also gave her wise words to the girls that are pursuing Latin dance or any other sports.

The most crucial thing that I learned is that setbacks are inevitable. What we should do is to accept and defeat them rather than choosing to retreat. Many times I chose to step back (and try to avoid them), but then they returned in another way.

“In general, I would advise everyone to not lose their own passion in doing what you love and always try! For the girls who want to participate – I have to say that although this sport is very different from traditional ones, I promise that if you can defeat whatever challenges come your way and be persistent, Latin dance can definitely spice up your life.”

As a close friend of Sofia, her story with the Latin dance touched me deeply. I was shocked when she mentioned that she was still practicing two to three hours a week in her junior year, when everyone was starting to feel burdened by the intense academic work and giving up some of their hobbies despite their earlier commitments. I admire her tenacity, as I have watched her growth from a shy person who had a hard time speaking in front of a crowd to a much more outgoing person who takes on leadership roles in the school. ​This change, I believe, could not be achieved without her motivation to strive for the best as well as persistence in doing what she loves.