Chapter 2: Discovering Dance

I'll be honest, the moment I discovered dance, it felt like something clicked inside me. Before I even knew what it was, I was just a kid who loved to move. But when I started taking my first real dance lessons, everything changed. It was like discovering a hidden part of myself that had always been waiting to be unlocked. It wasn't just about moving to the beat anymore; it was about learning technique, creating emotion through movement, and connecting with the music in a way I hadn't before.

At first, I wasn't particularly great. I didn't have the natural talent that some of the other kids seemed to have, and there were times when I felt frustrated. The choreography was hard, the steps didn't come easily, and I sometimes felt like I was falling behind. But something about dance kept pulling me back in. Even when I struggled, I couldn't stop. It was as if the music was in my soul, and I couldn't ignore it.

I started to spend more time practicing, trying to perfect the moves I'd learned in class. My house became my little dance studio. I practiced in front of the mirror, often repeating the same routine over and over again until I got it right. I didn't care if my parents were busy in the other room; I just needed to dance. When I was dancing, nothing else mattered. It was like I was in my own world.

Over time, I started getting better. I could feel myself improving with each practice session, and that feeling of progress made me more confident. It was during this time that I realized just how much I loved dancing. It was more than a hobby—it was my passion. The thought of pursuing dance professionally started to settle in my mind, even though I didn't know where it would take me or how I could make it happen.

I began to look up to some of the dancers I admired—both in K-pop and beyond. I found myself watching performances online, studying their moves and trying to figure out how they made it all look so effortless. It wasn't just about their skills; it was their energy, their ability to connect with the audience. I wanted to learn how to do that. I wanted to dance with the kind of presence that made people stop and watch.

But I also had moments of doubt. There were days when I'd feel like giving up, especially when I compared myself to the other trainees around me who seemed to have more experience or natural talent. But then I remembered why I started dancing in the first place—not for fame, not for recognition—but because it made me feel alive. Even when things got tough, I reminded myself of that passion.

Looking back, I can say that dance wasn't just something I discovered; it was something I chose. It became part of who I am. And as I continued to improve, I knew that this journey wasn't just a hobby anymore. It was the start of something bigger.