I used to think that dancing without a mirror was nearly impossible. How could you be sure you’re doing it “right” if you couldn’t see yourself? I’ve always been that person who checks their reflection, adjusts, fixes, and repeats until I’m happy with what I see. Whether in class or in front of the mirror at home, I was obsessed with looking good. I believed that the only way to truly dance was through control, correction, and perfection.
That was until I walked into Dance Improvisation Lab.
The first thing I noticed when I arrived at the studio was that there were no mirrors. No reflective surface to look into. At first, I felt lost. A little nervous. It was like stepping into a world where I wasn’t sure what to do with myself. There was no visual feedback, no way to check if my arms were straight or my posture “on point.” It was just… me and the movement.
The facilitator spoke about how the absence of mirrors was intentional. She explained that we often rely on our external reflection to determine whether or not we’re doing something “correctly.” But what happens if we remove that? What happens if we stop dancing to look good and just dance to feel?
At first, it was uncomfortable. Without the constant feedback of a mirror, I had to trust my body in a whole new way. I had to listen to the way my feet connected to the floor, the way my spine moved through space, and how my breath carried me through each moment. I realized that when I wasn’t worried about how I looked, I could focus on how it felt. The movements became less about precision and more about expression. The rhythm didn’t come from getting the steps perfect—it came from letting go and trusting my own instinct.
One of the most powerful moments for me came during a session where we were asked to close our eyes while moving. The facilitator encouraged us to focus purely on our internal sensations—no mirrors, no external cues, just being in the movement. At first, it felt like I was floating in space, unsure of where I was or how I was moving. But as the exercise continued, something shifted. My body began to speak more clearly. I moved in ways I had never considered. Without the pressure of looking “right,” I was free to express emotions, thoughts, and impulses that had been buried under years of perfectionism.
Since that session, I’ve noticed a change in the way I dance—not just in the studio but everywhere. Whether I’m moving through my day, practicing alone at home, or performing, I now dance with more freedom. I no longer need to check my reflection to feel validated. I don’t need to see myself to know that the movement is mine.
Dance Improvisation Lab taught me something invaluable: that dancing is about more than how you look—it’s about how you feel in your body, in that moment. The mirror can lie, but your body can’t. The more I’ve let go of perfection, the more I’ve found my own authentic movement.
If you’ve always danced with a mirror or if you’re like me—someone who struggles with self-image or control—I highly recommend stepping into a space like this. It’s liberating, it’s raw, and it’s a place where you can explore movement as it is, not as you think it should be.