Teresa, Light in My Dark Times

#dance #dancer #choreographer #teresaespinosa #mydancementor

It was 2005, and I decided to leave the dance group I had been part of for the previous seven years. Actually, I felt there was no other option because I was experiencing burnout and panic attacks. It was the result of a combination of challenging events that had happened in my family, along with the mindset I was in and the story I believed about myself. Looking back, I consider that period a dark time in my life. Leaving the group led me onto my own path and began a long journey of healing.

After leaving the group, I continued dancing on my own terms. I explored new dance styles and new approaches to movement. I was introduced to the world of contemporary dance and found it deeply healing. At the same time, I still loved hip hop because it was the style I had grown up with.

YouTube was still in its early days when I discovered Teresa Espinosa, a choreographer whose work inspired me tremendously. I watched videos of her classes and interviews over and over again. They filled me with joy and excitement. I loved her energy, her style, and her colorful hair. She became my role model.

Watching her reconnected me with my dream of becoming a dancer and choreographer. I remember showing one of Teresa's videos to a girl I was teaching dance to, and she confidently said, "You can do it too." That sentence stayed with me for a very long time.

As the years passed, I gradually lost sight of Teresa, but she remained in my heart.

Then the COVID madness hit, and we all moved into the online world, discovering new possibilities. Some dance teachers started offering online classes, and suddenly there was a boom in online dance programs. That's when I remembered Teresa again. I wondered, "What is Teresa doing these days? Is she still dancing and teaching?"

I searched for her on Instagram and discovered that instead of teaching dance, she was coaching creatives. Every Sunday she hosted a one-hour session on Instagram, and I decided to commit to attending those weekly gatherings. It became one of the tools that helped me stay sane during those uncertain times. I remember my friend saying, "When nothing is certain, everything is possible." And it was exactly what happened. The ground had been completely turned over, and hidden treasures began to emerge. Teresa was one of the greatest gifts that those challenging years brought into my life.

I needed to create anchors for myself and develop discipline, and this became one of the things that supported me. During her Sunday gatherings, I learned about the other programs that Teresa offered. Besides the group sessions, she also provided one-on-one coaching.

Eventually, I joined her one-on-one coaching program. Over the years, we've built a loving and supportive relationship, and she has given me exactly the kind of support I needed to heal many of my wounds and insecurities around dance. I've often thought that even if I attended one of her dance classes in person, it doesn't necessarily mean our paths would have crossed in such a meaningful way.

She offered me something I had never experienced before in the dance world. In dance styles like hip hop, having a mental coach simply isn't common. Most people assume you dance just for fun. Either your dance teacher naturally has those coaching skills, or they don't. The reality is that very few dance teachers are also trained psychologists. They are often young people who genuinely love dance but may not yet have the emotional maturity to support students on a deeper level. In contrast, having a mental coach is very common in sports.

Teresa helped me to work on the areas where I needed support the most, areas I had been struggling with since I first started dancing but never knew how to address. The work was not just about technique, it was mainly about my mind and emotions. She helped me challenge limiting beliefs, heal old wounds, and work through insecurities that had always been reflected in my dancing.

Step by step, little by little, we began shining light into those hidden places. Slowly, healing happened, and with it came a gradual rewiring of my brain.

Nowadays, I am part of her program, The Dance Collective, a community for dancers and other creatives that meets twice a week. I am deeply grateful to be part of this tribe. You can learn more about the program here: www.moveonpurpose.com

I admire Teresa for her consistency, for her professionalism, and for her ability to deliver what she is meant to while remaining warm, genuine, and deeply human.

Teresa, the energy you bring is truly one of a kind. It is inspiring, healing, and uplifting.

I am so grateful to be part of your vortex, and I can't wait to finally meet you in person.

With Love,

Jindriska