How Religious Trauma Impacted My Dance Career
Religious trauma left its mark on many areas of my life. But it’s only been in the last couple of years that I’ve been able to recognize the impact it had on my dance career and reclaim dance as an art form that could bring me pleasure. As a young adult, my spiritual beliefs led me to invest my skills and artistic endeavors inside of an evangelical bubble. I sought purpose in a carefully guarded community where dance (or any kind of artistic expression) was valued mostly as an act of service. The sole purpose of my dance activities was to inspire people to give their lives to Jesus. This singular focus steered me away from opportunities that could have offered me artistic growth and professional expansion.

