Performing for crowds erases the fear of judgment and builds true confidence
I’m from Morocco. Creativity and music were part of my environment growing up. My mother used to sing at local traditional festivals, so there was always music around me. She was also open to the idea of dance, which made it easier for me to explore it and express myself through movement.
helpingBut a passion without perspective can quietly turn into addiction. I ended up with a training overload that led to tendinitis in both knees. The first week was harder than the next 2 years that followed. I realized I had built an identity around performance, and suddenly it was gone.
One of the biggest reasons I ended up becoming a dancer was seeing the movie Step Up when I was about 9 years old; I was immediately drawn to the character Moose.
After watching the film, I started watching dance videos on YouTube and tried to learn some moves on my own. I was completely obsessed and would listen to music and dance alone in my room for hours, just vibing without any kind of structure.
helpingDancing became a means for me to express myself and let out my energy without being a source of chaos in the house. Over time, it became a part of who I am. After a few years, I honestly could not imagine living a day without dancing.
I started attending dance events and battles, where I met people from the dance community.
helpingLater, I was really inspired by Les Twins and their freestyle style. In 2020, I started learning bachata and Afro dance, and more recently I started taking regular salsa classes. I’m also interested in learning Chicago Footwork; Cuban rumba is definitely on my list as well.
I started attending dance events and battles, where I met people from the dance community. We would meet and dance together occasionally.
However, my biggest improvement came when I started taking dance classes at Studio X in Fez, where I’m from. Being in a structured learning environment really helped me grow and refine my technique.
helpingOne moment that really stood out was when I performed a solo show at the Holi Dance Festival in Fez, in front of around 200 people. I was extremely nervous at first, but once the music started and I began dancing, everything changed.
helpingBy the end of the performance, I felt an incredible sense of joy and connection with the audience. Seeing people appreciate the performance made me realize how powerful dance can be. That moment made me think, “I want to experience this more often.”
One of the biggest challenges was balancing dance with my studies, especially during university. I wanted to improve in dance, but I also knew my academic career was important. The solution was simply finding balance.
helpingDuring busy academic periods, I focused more on my studies and practiced dance about once a week. It wasn’t always easy, but it helped me keep both priorities moving forward. I never saw dance as something that I absolutely had to turn into a career, so I didn’t put that kind of pressure on myself.
helpingSome highlights of my dance journey include being invited to speak about dance by Hespress, which has an audience of over 20 million followers. I’ve also won local dance competitions against more than 50 dancers, and had the opportunity to participate in TEDxRabat in 2020.
For me, dance is mostly about self-expression. It has helped me build self-confidence, and changed the way I carry myself. Through dance, I attended events, met artists and dancers, and became part of a community.
helpingWhen you perform in front of hundreds of people, you eventually stop worrying about what others think, and that builds real confidence. Of course, I also cared about results and competitions and practiced a lot, but at its core, dance has always been a way for me to express myself.
Dance has taught me many things, especially teamwork and communication. I joined dance communities where we prepared showcases together with different teams from different cities. I also had the opportunity to lead groups and organize performances, which helped me develop leadership skills and confidence.
In dance, you work closely with others: teammates, choreographers, and audiences. Building trust and supporting each other is essential, just like in our company environment.
Every performance has a clear purpose. When a team shares that purpose, everyone understands their role and works together to deliver the best result.
helpingIn dance, you constantly ask yourself how you can improve, whether by analyzing your videos, getting feedback, or practicing more. That same mindset applies to work, where you always look for ways to perform better, improve processes, and deliver stronger results.
