A Reflection

During CoVid, just like everything, dancing everywhere came to a complete halt, including Chicago Style Steppin… And it caused many including myself to reflect on that dance and its importance in our lives. For many, Chicago Steppin offers a release from the many stressors of the world today and CoVID added a whole new level of stress we never faced before, a Global Pandemic. I found myself, like many others, without that outlet for release. We found ourselves stuck in the house disconnected from the very thing that caused us so much joy. Not only did Steppin offer a release, it also acted as a social connector. It allowed people who may never have met to come together in the dance. Someone from California may touch hands with someone from Ohio and for 3-5 minutes they were connected in the dance, partner to partner. The music surrounding them as they become one with the dance. New friendships were formed in a community of likeminded people who just want to dance.  And just like that, those connections and that release mechanism where gone due to CoVID. Those losses caused the community to reflect and remember why they started dancing and to also value the dance even more. It ignited something in all of us, the fire we once knew. As soon as we could, we all began to run to the floor to release and connect but with a newfound appreciation for the art we call Chicago Style Steppin. Stepper sets popped up all over. Everyone making plans to travel and come together to meets new friends, hug old ones and partake in the dance. While it seems a break sparked something in us all, I hope we never forget what we have discovered it really means to us.