Dancing to My Tunes: How Dance Has Made Me a Better Writer

“Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion.” – Martha Graham

Dancing has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. What started as a forced exercise eventually became a part of my identity. Having learnt Bharatnatyam when I was 10 years old, moving to a new city made me move away from my passion. The new city life took its toll, and by the time I could get used to the ways of this city, dance had already taken a backseat.

But, as they say, life has a way of circling back to what truly matters. In a serendipitous turn of events, I found myself in touch with dance once again. It was as if the universe conspired to reignite the flames of my dormant passion. For me, returning to dance was not just a rekindling; it was more of a homecoming. With a teacher who was motivating as much as she was inspiring, it was evident that dance had not forgotten me. Since then, there’s been no looking back. Dance has been more than just an art form – it is my solace and my connection to something larger than myself. 

As a dancer, I am lucky to have been guided by the wisdom of my dance teacher, whose words have left an indelible mark on my journey. What dance has taught me extends beyond the physical realm. The discipline, perseverance, and attention to detail required in perfecting a dance routine have effortlessly transitioned into my writing process. The same dedication that refines a pirouette now refines my prose. 

Here are the invaluable lessons that have made me a good dancer, remarkably enhanced my skills as a writer, and made me a better human being, above all:

1.    Precision makes perfection

For my dance teacher, ‘good enough’ was a phrase quite unheard of. She would accept nothing less than the best. The attention to detail required in perfecting a step translated into a heightened sense of the finer nuances in the art of writing. 

2.    Mastering the art takes time

While precision is imperative, what’s also important to remember is that mastering the art takes dedication, time, and immense practice. As a dancer, I’ve always worked towards refining my movements to convey emotions. Similarly, the writer in me always looks at crafting sentences that paint a vivid picture for the reader.

3.    Expressive yourself unapologetically

In dance, expressions matter – be it a raised eyebrow, a gentle head tilt or a delicate hand gesture. Likewise, as a writer, the choice of words or the construction of a sentence must resonate with the reader. Both are journeys of self-discovery and a willingness to bare one’s soul through movement and prose. 

4.    Winging it in style through improvisation

Navigating the unknown realms of dancing and writing requires a blend of skill and intuition. A testament to adaptability, improvising is second nature to a writer and a dancer. Improvising gives me the opportunity to discover myself and let my writing take unexpected turns. 

Most importantly, it’s about enjoying the process

Dancing and writing can be very demanding, in terms of hard work and dedication. But, in the midst of perfecting each step or getting a sentence right, we often forget why we started doing it in the first place. The true beauty lies not in the final performance or finished article or blog post; it’s in the sheer joy of the creative process. All it takes is for us to embrace it and enjoy every moment.

I think writers are, at their core, dancers who are navigating the blank pages of a Word document. I’ve always drawn parallels between dance and writing, and both have been tremendous influences that have shaped my life and made me the person I am today. I will always be grateful for all that dance has given me and for the dedication it has instilled in me. It is these virtues that have helped me infuse my writing with a newfound vitality and expressive vigour.