Best Foot Forward: Exploration, Experimentation, and Healing through Dance
- Francesca Hill
- Apr 27, 2022
- 2 min read
College is not only a time for maturation and growth, but also self exploration. For many, that process helps us figure out our true passions and interests.
While Creative Producing sophomore Ariana De Leon may have chosen a degree in film, her time in college has allowed her to rekindle her first passion; dance.
Ariana has been dancing since she was three. Growing up in a competition studio, Ariana trained extensively in ballet, tap, jazz, musical theatre, hip hop, contemporary, and lyrical.
Competitions to Quarantine
Unfortunately, the world of competitive dance often fostered a toxic environment.
“It felt like a chore, I felt like I couldn't fully express myself in a space where art is supposed to feel liberating, it just felt restricting."
Then, the pandemic interrupted her senior year. Six months later, she left for Chapman.
During this time, Ariana experienced a two-year hiatus from competitive dance. She began to reflect on her relationship with dance and refocus on what it meant to her.
The Remedy of Rhythm
Through a process of freestyling & improv, Ariana began working on her style and self expression. She is happy to say that she now has a much healthier relationship with dance.
Ariana isn’t the first one to find comfort in dance. For thousands of years, dance has been used as a healing force.
A UCLA Health study finds Conscious Dance, which encourages self discovery through unchoreographed movement, produces immense mental health benefits like improved mood or increased confidence.
Rather than a chore, dance has now become a form of self care and expression for Ariana.
Freestyling Into the Future
Finding a healthy relationship with dance has also helped shape her future goals. She envisions a career where her passion for dance and film can flourish together.
"I want to combine the two art forms to just make one big mesh of art. It’s something I'm really looking forward to."
She hopes to work on short form content like music videos and commercials, where she can work with artists and do creative development, while having the knowledge of how to choreograph and move in front of a camera.
She has begun that process with her own projects. Recently, she produced, directed, and choreographed an independent hip hop project. She is already planning more projects for the future, and hopes to keep sharing her creative visions with the world.
A Creative Community
At Chapman, she also shares her talents with others. Her freshman year, she joined Floor 13, a hip hop group at Chapman. She serves as the treasurer of the executive board, choreographs, and performs.
"It’s really fun and a great community to be involved in to just share my artistry and creative visions with a lovely group of people."
Their next performance will be at Midnight Breakfast during finals week.
Check out some of their work here.
Tapping into her creativity through the visual & performing arts at Chapman has given her a realization. Dance will always be a part of her.
Be a part of Ariana’s creative journey and check out some of her upcoming content.
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