New York City: Rethinking My Rules
JULY 2026
Reflections on Dance, Rest, Connection, and Learning to Trust Myself
I went to New York expecting to improve my dancing. Instead, I came home with a much bigger lesson.
Over the past few years, I’ve worked hard on my dance technique. This weekend, I realized just how far I’ve come. Movements that once felt impossible now felt natural. But what surprised me was that technique wasn’t actually the centre of my experience. When I look back on the weekend, what I remember is the music, the connections I had, and the incredible energy on the dance floor. That’s a different kind of progress.
The biggest shift happened the moment I stopped chasing videos.
After my Instagram account was suspended as a result of false copyright complaints by a former dance partner, I was forced to go back to my why–to remember why I started creating in the first place. It wasn’t because I wanted likes or followers. It was because I love dance.
A few months ago, in Paris, I was constantly on the lookout for the next reel. The next trend. The next moment worth filming. Somewhere along the way, social media had shifted my focus away from experiencing the moment to documenting it. This weekend, in New York, I stayed away from the filming lights and just did what I love. I danced. I was more present than I’ve been in a long time, and those ended up being some of the best dances I’ve ever had.
Ironically, though, I learned that the answer isn’t to never film. There were some beautiful moments on the boat cruise that I wish I had captured. Passing under the Brooklyn Bridge, lit up against the night sky. The moment the song Barcelona built up to its crescendo just as the Statue of Liberty came into view. It was pure magic. And I wish I had a little piece of it to look back on.
So… the answer isn’t “always film“ versus “never film.” It’s about intentionality. Deliberately choosing when I want to capture a moment, and when I’d rather simply live it.
For a long time, I’ve relied on rules to guide me. Rules can be incredibly helpful, especially while you’re rebuilding confidence or learning to protect your time and energy. But New York reminded me that life isn’t always black and white. Sometimes growth means trusting your judgment instead of relying on rigid rules.
That same shift showed up in something much simpler: rest.
I didn’t go to all the workshops. I skipped the day socials. And I didn’t “pre-game” or socialize as much as I could have. Because I knew my body needed rest. And for the first time, I did it with zero guilt. I didn’t feel like I was missing out. I didn’t need to experience the festival the way everyone else was in order to feel like I was doing it “right.” I knew why I was there, and I structured my days around that.
That’s one of the things I love most about travelling: every time I leave home, I’m reminded that there are countless ways to build a life and countless ways to experience one. I often think of this quote:
“People who have travelled a lot tend to judge less. Not because they’ve become nicer, but because they’ve realized there are many different ways to live, think, and do things. When you’ve seen enough versions of what’s considered ‘the right way,’ you stop believing yours is the only one.”
Travel doesn’t just expose us to different cultures. It exposes us to different ways of living. This weekend, seeing people approach dance—and life—in such different ways reminded me of that. And it gave me permission to embrace the version that feels most authentic to me.
Looking back, the biggest lesson from New York was about trust. Trusting that I’m good enough. Trusting that resting doesn’t mean missing out. Trusting myself to know when a rule needs to be broken. Most importantly, trusting my own judgment instead of measuring my experience against everyone else’s.
For so long, I felt like I was chasing something: videos, validation, every possible dance opportunity, the “right” festival experience. This weekend, I stopped chasing. And interestingly, that’s when everything seemed to find me instead. Incredible dances. Confidence. Connection. And self-trust.
This weekend was about so much more than becoming a better dancer. It was about becoming more myself.
