You are never too young or too old to start

In May 2022, at the age of 83, I wasn’t going to let my age stop me from dancing or from finding a new teacher. I decided the best way to choose a teacher was to attend a dance competition and watch the teachers with their students.

That’s when Dmitry Ilyushenov stood out to me. Both Dmitry and his students were having a wonderful time, and they were dancing beautifully. I remember thinking, This is who I want as my teacher.

I was nervous during my first few lessons. It takes time to get comfortable dancing with a new teacher, but Dmitry immediately put me at ease and constantly encouraged me. Now, I look forward to every lesson.

I had competed in Standard before, but I had never competed in Latin. Seeing the passion and joy Dmitry brings to Latin dancing inspired me to give it a try. I decided it was time to start something new.

Many years ago, I first started group dance lessons while I was going through a divorce. I needed something that would bring joy into my life, and dancing did exactly that. When you are concentrating on the music, the steps, and your partner, there is no room for your problems. Dance has been a wonderful outlet for me. It helps relieve stress, clears my mind, and gives me a boost of confidence.

Over the years, dance has continued to give me opportunities to challenge myself and grow.

When I was turning 85, I decided to do something completely different to celebrate my birthday: a show dance. It was a big challenge for me and definitely took me outside my comfort zone. I had to dance some steps on my own instead of always being in a closed position with Dmitry. With his patience and encouragement, I was able to do it — and I was very proud of the result.

That experience taught me that we are capable of much more than we sometimes think, regardless of our age.

The studio is a happy place for me, filled with great music, wonderful instructors, and students of all levels. Watching dancers who are more advanced than me inspires me to keep practicing and working hard to improve. At the same time, the other students are incredibly supportive. They cheer you on, encourage you, and often become your friends.

There is a real sense of community, and the instructors and students inspire one another every day.

When I first started dancing, I was a quiet and shy person. I never imagined how much confidence I would gain through dance.

Today, I continue to set new goals for myself. My current challenge is learning Salsa, Bachata, and Merengue. Learning new dances keeps both my mind and body active, which becomes increasingly important as we age.

Looking back, I would never have imagined where dancing would take me. I started as someone who was nervous about learning, and today I am still challenging myself, still learning, and still discovering new things I can do.

We all start as beginners. You are never too young or too old to start experiencing the joy of dancing.