Think you can't dance? Think again!

Ever since I was young I knew I wanted to dance. I helped in the Eisteddfords. I choreographed for our variety shows (including a very hilarious Lambada) in high school and dreamed of being a choreographer. I journeyed through tap, contemporary, salsa, polynesian, exotic, hip hop, ballroom... and thoroughly enjoyed every step (literally). Although something I always felt was the ever strong pressure of the need to be slim to be a dancer.  I always felt self conscious and never executed the moves to my full capacity for fear of looking silly.

After enjoying years in the Ballroom scene in my 20s, my wonderful dance partner had an accident at work, putting him a wheelchair for life. It shook our world as we were great friends and shared the intense love of dance together. I couldn't face our dance without him as we had such a natural chemistry (which is very important in any couple style dance), so I decided to try something new. Having passed a bellydance academy for the last 2 years on my way to class, I figured "What the hell" and decided to go try it on. I fell in love.

Your heart beats to its own rhythm. Find yours.

12 years on and still shimmying, I found my souls' dance counterpart... bellydance has enabled me to enjoy being me, lose weight and gain an incredible level of feminine confidence. I now teach the art of bellydance and truly love seeing other women go through the journey of self discovery and self confidence. My most senior student - Martha, is 98 years old this year and comes to class each week with her bindi and hip scarf on and she smiles the most brightest smile you'll ever see through the whole hour. My youngest, Abbey is 9 and comes with her mum Kylie. Watching a mother and daughter bond through an ancient dance art is nothing short of spectacular and has aided Kylie in ensuring her daughter has a positive self esteem and healthy outlook on what she is capable of. Bellydance has given me and many other women (and men) the confidence to dance. I have even since created my own fusion style - Industrial Bellydance, and released a double DVD set which sells around the world (Industrial Elements Vol. 1).

Speaking of confidence, I even had a run in with Jason Coleman on SYTYCD Australia (Season 1). He told me, I wasn't 'dance fit'. After he set me a challenge to get 10 people up on stage to stand by me 'despite my size', I was determined... Natalie Bassingthwaighte was furious and such a wonderful inspiration to me during that day. She took her camera crew, with me (in full industrial bellydance costume) out into Star City (Sydney) and we found not only 10... but 17 people including a family with children up on stage. Jason scoffed and said 'they're only here for their 5 minutes of fame..'. It was at that moment I realised that some people have lost their way within dance and this is what I reminded him when I confidently said "that's funny.. I thought I walked into the studio for So You Think You Can Dance.. not Australia's Top Model." Funnily enough, he was speechless and he put me through to the next round - the top 120 but I was bombed out in the next round, just missing the top 100. Honestly, it was still an incredible experience. Here I was, a size 16-18 bellydancer and I made it to the top 120 of SYTYCD. I didn't even think I'd make it past round1!

My point isn't to rave about how unfair it is to be an overweight person and dance... yes it is harder but more so to get over your own insecurities. Try everything... at least once... maybe twice to be sure and if in doubt, try something else. Dance is for everyone. No matter your shape, size, culture, religious beliefs, age, mobility level, financial status or geographic location - you can dance.

Your heart beats to its own rhythm. Find yours. Find the style that makes you feel comfortable and reminds you how great it is being human.