I don’t think there was ever a time in my life that I didn’t love to dance. Some of my earliest memories as a child consist of my mother taking me downstairs in our basement, turning on Janet Jackson’s 1997 Velvet Rope cassette tape and dancing to Together Again. We would practice stretching and she would teach me the basics, like ballet positions and how to point my toes correctly. My dad would chuckle watching our informal classes, but these times have always stuck out to me as some of the most vivid memories of my mom and I.  Although my mom was never formally trained growing up, she had enough natural talent and drive to be able to take class along side trained dancers at the Chicago Performing Arts Academy when she was in high school. Her high school was akin to the school in Fame where you auditioned based on your respective performing arts specialty. Surprisingly enough, my mother’s was not dance; she was accepted for acting. However, that didn’t stop her from perusing classes and dancing for the joy of it. In turn, when I became old enough and expressed interest, she enrolled me into a local dance studio and the rest was history. (Unfortunately I did not inherit her natural flexibility or good feet, which I’m still very salty about). Soon my years were filled with classes and  competitions, drives to and from various dance studios, and umpteen amounts of bobby pins and pounds of hair spray. This passion lasted well into college where I would annually perform for my sorority’s dance team, as well as a stint on a student lead dance team, mainly composed of “Greek Life” girls who missed the thrill of choreography and camaraderie that only hours of practice and sweat could provide.

After college, I began pursuing various outlets for hobbies and activities. To everyone’s surprise, and even my own, I took up running and fell head over heels in love. Besides the hours of movement and the infamous “runners high”, (which is 1000% real by the way),  choosing my running playlist was always a highlight of my training. I spend hours choosing music with adequate BPM’s to match the mood of my mileage. The more I ran, the more that I began to delve into the world of EDM. This genre of music is known for its high BPM’s, exciting buildup and drops, and overall energetic tone. There’s a reason why the majority of workout classes use this type of music to motivate clients, and why major nightclubs feature world-renowned artists and DJ’s to entertain mass crowds. During my runs, I would pop on this music, listen to sometimes hour-long sets, and my mind would carry me away to a dance floor that I envisioned myself on. The miles became easier and I noticed that even after my workout ended, the happiness this music brought me continued to grow. After a year of listening to this music and having been to enough night clubs to build a base of artist knowledge, I decided to attend a festival in the Spring of 2017 called Hangout Music Fest. Little did I know my life would forever change in ways that I could never imagine…

I remember my first true set like it was yesterday. I decided to attend an artist named Gryffin mid day, by myself, due to my fellow condo mates unwilling or unable to join me due to massive Day 3 hangovers. Dressed as a Baywatch lifeguard, I strolled up to the infamous “Boom Boom Tent” with the other festival goers who loved this electronic music, in a space where anything was possible and everyone was completely themselves.  Although I was alone, I had an overwhelming sense of peace. Normally I would have felt awkward attending something alone, especially when I had a condo full of friends a couple blocks away I could easily retreat to. However everyone was dancing around me, smiling, and encouraging me to bask in the good vibes that were so palpable in the air. Soon, any anxiety I felt was swept away with the Gulf’s current and I was dancing without missing a beat. During that set I met lifelong friends who adopted me into their crew and whom I still attend festivals, visit, and are friends with to this day. Below is my first “festival family” whose love and acceptance have contributed to the woman I am today. I’ll forever be grateful for taking that leap of faith that day and for these faces who made me feel at home, a million thank you’s could never suffice for the love and bond we have created.

From May 2017 until today, I have attended 10 festivals, with 2 more in my near future, and no plans on stopping anytime soon. To some, I’m extreme and insane, and chasing something that defies logic and spending money in incredulous ways. To other’s who know what I know and have experienced what I have, I’m following a path that not all are called to. Beyond the videos of the neon skies, fireworks, pulsating music, late nights, and partying, I can honestly say I’ve found my soul and my Truth. I’ve seen other parts of the world through festivals, have met incredible people along the way, cultivated lifelong friendships, fallen in love (those “Rave Baes” can be so real, let me tell ya!), and found a sense of spirituality that I am deeply connected to. My festival friends are so near and dear to me because of the unspoken love and respect for each other, vowing to care for each other and bask in the exhilarating music, creating memories that last a lifetime. To explain the love and sense of unity that us ravers and “festies” share is hard to put into words. It’s knowing that the person next to you is so grateful to be alive in that particular moment in time,  sharing that experience, accepting you unconditionally. It’s small things like sharing water when you’ve dance you heart out, or trading Kandi that you’ve made in hopes to brighten someone’s day.  It’s a world where you can leave your problems at the door, be your authentic self, and create a sense of Home where anything is possible. It’s looking out onto a crowd of over 100,000 people from all over the world, on your best friend’s shoulders, and feeling the energy and love from everyone around you. It is exhilirating, raw, and life in its purest form.

I can without a doubt say that EDM has changed my life for the better. It’s connected me back to my love of dance and to my truest self. This path has blessed me with friendships that I hold so near and dear to my heart, and a sense of self love that has been cultivated through unconditional acceptance. I’ve learned that being myself is the most beautiful thing in the world, and although you may come a little broken at times,  music really can cure the hurt in your heart. That there are genuinely good people in this world and that we are all connected, searching for a place to call Home and a sense of overwhelming love. I am forever grateful for this past year and a half and the lessons I have been lucky enough to learn, for they have made me a kinder and more loving version of myself. I hope everyone has the chance to find something in life that they love so dearly, and I hope that they never lose sight of why it calls to them. For me, I’ll always find my best self under the Neon Sky ❤