A Dance Story of Joy, Struggle, and Transformation — Eternal Movement through Embodied Movement
- Megan Bloom
- Feb 13
- 7 min read
Have you ever paused to reflect on the tapestry of your life’s most joyous and fulfilling moments, only to find threads woven with a consistent shimmer of magic? For me, whenever I trace these moments back, I discover dance at their heart. Whether it’s the quiet ecstasy of movement in solitude or the shared electricity of moving within a crowd, dance has been the luminous thread connecting the chapters of my life story.
From my earliest memory, dance has been the soundtrack of my life. I can still recall the vibrant colors of my childhood room, bouncing as I twirled and leaped with abandon. Before I could speak in full sentences, I was weaving stories with my limbs, my tiny feet tapping out rhythms long before I understood their magic. I was born dancing, and every significant moment since then has been choreographed in harmony with this expressive language.
As a child, words often escaped me... I spent years in speech therapy, trying to articulate thoughts in ways others could understand. Yet, when I danced, my heart spoke fluently. Dance became my voice, my form of authentic self-expression, where every movement was eloquent and true to my spirit. Despite being a shy child, I was never a shy dancer. I remember the thrill of early performances that punctuated my childhood with unforgettable highlights.
One vivid memory stands out: the summer I was ten years old with the local county fair alive with sounds and colors. Every day that week, I found my way to the fountain area, drawn by the upbeat melodies of an Andean music band. As their flutes sang, something inside me sparked to life. I danced with abandon, liberated from any self-conscious tendencies that otherwise shadowed my days. In those moments, the world was alive and I was free, my movements as vibrant as the summer sun.
Then came another pivotal summer after my parents’ divorce, when I was thirteen. By then, I’d been taking dance classes since I was four, yet it was a particular modern dance teacher who truly opened my eyes to new possibilities. That summer, she led us through guided dance improvisation exercises in the dance studio and across our town at some city parks, her encouragement a gentle wind beneath my wings. With every session, I discovered a new land of liberation — where vocabulary and training laid foundations, but where I could soar without rules or constraints. Dance improvisation was a revelation, a way to explore through movement the expanse of my heart and imagination.
At sixteen, I discovered Ballroom and Latin dance, and my dance world blew wide open again. I had known the joy and exhilaration of moving solo or within group dances but partnering introduced a new dimension. The art of nonverbal communication, integral to these dance styles, was thrilling. I dove headfirst into social, performance, and competitive arenas, flourishing not just in movement but socially as well. Speaking was no longer an issue; I felt alive in this vibrant community that transcended age and skill levels — a true embodiment of communal joy.
Becoming a ballroom dance teacher further deepened my understanding of movement. Teaching adults new to dance taught me to convey an intuitive understanding that had always been innate for me. There’s no better way to deepen one’s knowledge than teaching others, and through this, I gained a profound appreciation for the shared journey of learning and growth in dance. This became my passion and profession for a decade, until the world shifted with COVID-19.
The pandemic paused the world as we knew it, altering life in ways none of us could have predicted. Yet alongside these global changes, I was experiencing a personal transformation — the desire to explore and experience more of the world beyond conventional boundaries.
This urge to explore led my best friend, who is also my mom, and I to embark on a new adventure. We decided to invest in a tiny house on wheels, embracing a lifestyle of slow travel across the western United States. We had a custom wooden trailer built, completed much of the finishing work ourselves, and hit the road, redefining the meaning of home as it became wherever our wheels took us. This journey has been nothing short of remarkable — thrilling and terrifying, rewarding and liberating — as we towed our home to new destinations.
Yet this incredible lifestyle came with a significant compromise: dance floor space. My movement areas shrank to a mere 5x5 foot area at best, and a confined galley kitchen. As COVID curtailed public dance opportunities, I found myself missing the expression of my innate and eternal spark. Despite the excitement of this new chapter, I was saddened by the absence of dance in my life.
But then, a pivotal realization dawned with the support of my travel buddy and confidante. Why let a small space limit my movement? Determined to reclaim the joy of dance, I discarded the notion that I needed more space to express myself and began inventing creative, exhilarating ways to move freely within my tiny home. I discovered that even in the smallest of spaces, the possibilities for big expression are limitless. (I am still surprised by the amount of dancing and expressive movement I can do in my tiny house’s movement space.)
As I began exploring how to move in my tiny space, I also realized that while my snug environment had become my reason for not dancing, many friends and fellow dancers had similarly let the demands of life push dance into the background. Like me, many others have tapestries where dance is a cherished theme, threading through their most joyful and meaningful moments. Yet they, too, allowed dance to take a backseat, leading to a sense of sadness and unfulfilled emptiness.
This pivotal realization — the stepping away from one of life’s most fulfilling pursuits — was not just my story. It was a shared experience felt by many who, overwhelmed by life’s commitments, had sidestepped those joy-filled moments that dance brings. In acknowledging this shared journey, I felt a powerful call to action — a reminder of my lifelong passion and superpower: letting dance be a source of joy, with a “no matter what” mindset.
This aspect is remarkable because, no matter how intensely I trained, I never let perfection overshadow the joy and fulfillment dance brought me. And this truth stands out, especially when I consider how perfectionism permeated other areas of my life. In academics and various commitments, I expected nothing less than perfection from myself, despite knowing the struggle and unhealthy focus it entailed. Yet, in a way I can only describe as sacred, dance was shielded from the grip of perfectionism. Dancing remained pure in its joy, a special sanctuary where the process mattered more than the perfect execution.
Reflecting on this duality — the juxtaposition of dance’s unfettered joy against other areas overshadowed by perfectionism — fueled my determination to share this freedom and elation with others. I remembered the delight of teaching adults who had never danced before, witnessing their faces illuminate with empowerment and happiness upon realizing they could express themselves through movement.
These realizations converged, lighting a path towards a singular realization and purpose. This awakening led me to found Eternal Dancers — a movement to rekindle the joy of dance in others, to weave new threads of fulfillment and connection into the tapestry of life. It’s a space where dance is celebrated, embraced, and savored for its intrinsic joy, inviting everyone to rediscover their inner “eternal dancer” and the happiness it brings.
Eternal Dancers is more than just a platform; it’s my gift and calling — a space where I aim to inspire, equip, and empower individuals to free their inner “eternal dancer” and unleash their infinite creativity through daily dance and movement experiences. Through one-on-one coaching, classes, immersive online courses, and events, I invite everyone to embrace the joy and transformation that just 10 minutes of dance a day can bring.
Eternal Dancers is also about creating a community — a vibrant online gathering I am building where stories will be shared, support offered, and friendships forged. It’s a place for former dancers, current dancers, and non-trained movers alike to find belonging. My vision is a celebration for everyone and every body, across all ages and backgrounds. As we unleash our inner “eternal dancers” together, I believe the world can become a happier place, filled with individuals following their highest excitement.
I’ve delved deeply into the science of the mind-body connection, the dance brain, and the power of embodied movement, revealing countless holistic well-being benefits. Witnessing and experiencing these transformations fuel my passion. Dance truly is like magic; it taps into our body’s innate wisdom, weaving together music, movement, and community, while releasing all “shoulds” and “supposed tos” that we have allowed to shape our beliefs and limit ways of being present in our lives.
I’ve observed how dance inclusion can remarkably transform personal and business aspects. Imagine seeking greater work-life balance; by enhancing your balance through creative movement, equilibrium naturally extends into other life areas. As you cultivate mobility in your body, new possibilities unfold elsewhere in life. Finding strength in dance often reveals surprising strength in areas you once perceived as weak. This might sound wild, but there’s a wealth of science supporting these truths. This fascinating body of knowledge underpins my carefully curated guided movement experiences, where I interlace movement with transformational prompts.
This work is not just a vocation; it’s my calling and my passion. Dance is the very essence of who I am — my superpower and the gift I am here to share with the world. Through Eternal Dancers, I offer the wonders of movement, transformation, and connection as my gift.
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About the Author:
Megan Bloom is the founder of Eternal Dancers, a platform dedicated to inspiring, equipping, and empowering individuals to unleash their inner “eternal dancer.” As a dance connection specialist, coach and advocate for embodied movement, Megan combines her passion for dance with a deep understanding of the mind-body connection to promote holistic well-being. Join Megan on her journey to celebrate the joy and transformation of dance for everyone and every body.
Connect with Megan Bloom:
🎁 Experience the Joy of Dance: Sign up for Megan’s free guided movement experience, ‘Stress Liberation: Dance to Renew & Unburden,’ and discover how just 10 minutes a day can transform your well-being. Sign Up Here
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