11/11: The Power of New Beginnings, Setting Intentions, and the Connections We Create Through Dance

What if the joy you are looking for isn't just something you experience, but something you help create for someone else?

Today is November 11, 11/11. A date that holds special meaning for many people and is often associated with new beginnings, alignment, awakening, and the opportunity to become more intentional about the life we are creating.

Whether you connect with the spiritual symbolism of 11/11, see it as a beautiful reminder to pause and reflect, or simply appreciate the opportunity to begin again, I think there is something meaningful about giving ourselves permission to stop, take a breath, and consider what we want more of in our lives.

What do you want to create?

What do you want to experience?

What do you want to feel more deeply?

And perhaps one of the most important questions: What kind of energy and experiences do you want to bring into the lives of those around you?

For me, these questions are at the heart of everything I teach through Dance To Uplift.

Whether we're exploring West Coast Swing, somatic movement, breathwork, or deeper connection through dance, the invitation is always the same: become more present, listen to what is happening within you, and allow yourself to create something meaningful in the moment.

And this past weekend at Mountain Magic in Lake Tahoe reminded me just how powerful that can be.

The Meaning of 11/11: A Day to Pause, Align, and Create

There is something beautiful about the symbolism of 11/11.

In numerology and spiritual traditions, the number 11 is often associated with intuition, awareness, inspiration, and alignment. It is sometimes referred to as a master number, representing an invitation to become more conscious of our thoughts, intentions, and the direction we choose for our lives.

When we see 11:11 on a clock or arrive at a date like November 11, many people use it as a reminder to pause and reflect on what they are creating.

I love this idea, not because I believe we need a special date on the calendar to change our lives, but because I believe there is tremendous power in intentional living.

So much of life happens on autopilot.

We move from one responsibility to another. We take care of our families, show up for work, manage our schedules, and check things off our endless to-do lists. We can become so focused on what needs to get done that we forget to ask ourselves what we actually want to experience along the way.

Are we creating a life that feels meaningful?

Are we making room for joy?

Are we cultivating the relationships and experiences that light us up?

Are we allowing ourselves to play, explore, laugh, connect, and feel fully alive?

November 11 can be a beautiful reminder to return to those questions.

Rather than simply wishing for something different, what if we became intentional about creating it?

Not through pressure or another list of things we need to accomplish, but through small, meaningful choices that bring us closer to the life we want to experience.

Maybe your intention is to be more present with your partner.

Maybe you want to make more time for friendships, move your body, explore something new, or reconnect with a part of yourself that has been waiting for your attention.

Maybe you simply want more joy.

Whatever it is, I invite you to give yourself permission to want it.

And then take one small step toward creating it.

Your Intentions Don't Just Change Your Experience. They Can Change Someone Else's Too.

One of the things I love most about social dancing is that we rarely know the full story of the person standing in front of us.

We don't know what kind of day they've had, what challenges they're navigating, what they are carrying emotionally, or what it took for them to show up.

We simply meet them on the dance floor.

And for a few minutes, we have the opportunity to create something together.

This is one of the reasons West Coast Swing is so special to me. It is an improvisational partner dance built around connection, communication, musicality, and creativity. We don't arrive with every movement predetermined. We listen, respond, explore, and create in real time.

Every dance becomes a conversation.

Sometimes it's playful. Sometimes it's musical. Sometimes it's full of laughter.

Sometimes it's a beautiful moment of stillness and connection.

And sometimes, without realizing it, we become part of someone's story in a way that stays with them long after the music ends.

I was reminded of this in a particularly meaningful way at Mountain Magic this past weekend.

A Dance I'll Remember: The Unexpected Gift of Vulnerability

One of my favorite parts of competitions and dance weekends is the opportunity to connect with people I might not otherwise meet.

This weekend, I drew a gentleman in the hi/lo Jack and Jill.

When we met on the dance floor, I introduced myself and asked him his name.

He didn't respond.

I tried asking a few more questions, but he remained quiet.

I didn't know what was happening for him. I simply stayed present and focused on the dances we were about to share.

Later, he came up to me and said he needed to apologize.

He explained that two years earlier, he had experienced a stroke. Since then, he has dealt with unexpected bursts of emotion that he couldn't control. He told me that he knew if he started talking to me on the dance floor, he would start crying, and he didn't want that to happen.

He then shared something that really touched me.

All he had wanted from the Jack and Jill was to have a good time.

He thanked me for giving him that experience. He told me how much he appreciated our dances and how much they had contributed to making his weekend special.

I stood there listening, taking in what he was sharing.

And what he didn't know was how much his willingness to be vulnerable and share that moment with me increased my own joy.

My heart was warmed.

I had gone into that weekend hoping to dance, connect, play, and enjoy the experience.

I had no idea that one of those dances would become such a meaningful reminder of why I love this community and why I continue to teach.

He came to the dance floor wanting to have a good time.

I came to the dance floor wanting to connect and create.

And somewhere in the middle, we created something that neither of us could have planned.

That is the magic.

It wasn't about the competition, the placement, the perfect movement, or even the technique. It was about two people sharing a moment, each bringing what they could, and allowing something beautiful to happen.

And I walked away with just as much gratitude as he did.

The Power of Somatic Dance: Getting Out of Your Head and Into Connection

This experience is one of the reasons I believe so deeply in the connection between dance and somatic awareness.

Somatic movement invites us to become more aware of what is happening inside our bodies. Instead of focusing exclusively on how a movement looks, we begin to explore how it feels.

What happens when we slow down?

What happens when we soften our shoulders, release unnecessary tension, and allow ourselves to breathe?

What happens when we stop trying to control every moment and become curious about what might unfold?

In West Coast Swing, these questions become especially interesting.

We are constantly navigating connection with another person. We listen through the hands, recognize changes in weight, respond to movement, and explore the subtle communication that happens between partners.

But connection doesn't begin with the other person.

It begins with our connection to ourselves.

When we become more aware of our bodies, our breath, our balance, and our movement, we create more opportunities to connect authentically with someone else.

This doesn't mean every dance needs to be profound or emotionally significant.

Sometimes the most beautiful thing we can do is laugh, play, be silly, and enjoy a song.

Joy is meaningful too.

In fact, I think we sometimes underestimate the importance of play, especially as adults.

We spend so much of our lives being responsible, productive, and focused on what comes next. We forget that our bodies need opportunities to explore, express, and experience pleasure without having to accomplish anything.

This is why I love bringing somatic principles into West Coast Swing instruction.

We aren't just learning patterns.

We are learning to listen.

We are learning to communicate.

We are learning to recognize when we are holding tension, when we are rushing, when we are trying too hard, and when we can soften enough to allow connection.

And these are skills that extend far beyond the dance floor.

The awareness we develop through movement can influence how we show up in our relationships, how we communicate, how we respond to challenges, and how we experience the world around us.

What If Your Intention Was to Light Someone Else Up?

As I reflect on 11/11 and my experience at Mountain Magic, I keep coming back to one thought:

What if we were just as intentional about the experiences we create for others as we are about the experiences we want for ourselves?

What if we walked into a room with the intention to bring a little more joy?

What if we approached our relationships with curiosity instead of assumptions?

What if we danced with the intention to connect rather than impress?

What if we allowed ourselves to be fully present with the person in front of us, rather than worrying about what everyone else might think?

We never really know what someone else needs in a particular moment.

We don't have to fix anything. We don't have to know their story. We don't have to make every interaction meaningful.

Sometimes all we need to do is show up.

Offer a smile.

Share a dance.

Listen.

Laugh.

Be willing to create something together.

The gentleman I danced with at Mountain Magic reminded me that the simplest experiences can become the most meaningful.

He wanted to have fun.

And because we both showed up willing to share that experience, we each walked away with something more.

That is what I hope to cultivate through Dance To Uplift.

A community where we can come as we are. Where we don't have to be perfect dancers, have everything figured out, or show up with a particular level of confidence.

We get to learn, grow, explore, and connect.

We get to celebrate one another.

We get to create moments that remind us how beautiful it is to be alive.

An 11/11 Intention-Setting Practice: What Do You Want to Create?

Today, I invite you to take a few minutes for yourself.

You don't need a complicated ritual or a perfect meditation space. Simply give yourself a little room to slow down and listen.

Here is a simple practice you can try.

1. Pause and breathe.

Find a comfortable place to sit or stand. Allow your feet to connect with the ground. Take a few slow breaths, letting your shoulders soften and your body settle.

Notice what is happening inside you without needing to change anything.

2. Reflect on what lights you up.

Think about the moments when you feel most alive.

When do you laugh?

When do you feel connected?

What activities make you lose track of time?

Who brings out the best in you?

What experiences leave you feeling energized, inspired, and grateful?

Don't focus on what you think you should want. Get curious about what genuinely brings you joy.

3. Set an intention for the year ahead.

Rather than creating another list of accomplishments, choose an intention that reflects how you want to experience your life.

Perhaps it is:

• I intend to create more joy in my everyday life.

• I intend to be more present in my relationships.

• I intend to make room for play, movement, and creativity.

• I intend to listen to my body and honor what I need.

• I intend to approach new experiences with curiosity instead of fear.

• I intend to bring more love and light into the spaces I enter.

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Choose something that resonates with you.

4. Consider the energy you want to share.

Ask yourself:

How do I want people to feel when they are around me?

What do I want to contribute to the relationships and communities I am part of?

How can I use my presence to create more connection, joy, and kindness?

Remember, you don't have to change someone's life to make a difference. Sometimes one shared experience is enough to brighten someone's day.

5. Take one small action today.

Intentions become meaningful when we begin living them.

Send the message. Make the plans. Put on the music. Go dancing. Take a walk. Reach out to someone you miss. Give yourself permission to try something new.

You don't have to wait for January 1 to begin again.

You can begin today.

Let's Bring That Energy Together at Uplift This Friday, November 13!

And speaking of creating more joy, connection, and meaningful experiences, I would love to see you on the dance floor this Friday!

There is something special about coming together as a community after a day of reflection and intention.

We get to take all of those beautiful ideas and actually experience them.

We get to move, laugh, learn, connect, and create.

That is what UPLIFT is all about.

UPLIFT – West Coast Swing with Meaning

Friday, November 13

Join us for an evening of connection, learning, and social dancing!

• 8:00 PM: Advanced Deep Dive with Michael Caro and the Westies of Nashville on Directional Intention

• 8:30 PM: Fundamentals lesson

• 9:15 PM–Midnight: Social dancing with DJ Elisabeth

  
  

Whether you're an experienced dancer or still developing your foundation, there is a place for you on this dance floor.

Come ready to learn something new, explore your connection, meet someone new, and enjoy the beautiful community we are building together.

You never know who you might meet, what you might learn, or whose evening you might brighten simply by sharing a dance.

And perhaps you'll be the person who walks away with a memory that stays with you long after the music ends.

I hope you'll join us! https://www.dancetouplift.com/westcoastswingsocialutahcounty

A New Beginning Doesn't Have to Be a Big One

As I close out today's reflection, I keep thinking about that gentleman at Mountain Magic.

He didn't know that his willingness to share his story would become part of my reflection on 11/11.

He didn't know that by telling me how much those dances meant to him, he would remind me why I love what I do.

And I didn't know that a few minutes on the dance floor would leave such a lasting impression on me.

But that's the beautiful thing about connection.

We are constantly creating experiences together.

Sometimes we are the ones receiving the gift. Sometimes we are the ones offering it. And sometimes we don't even realize how much a moment means until we look back on it.

So today, on this powerful 11/11, I invite you to think about what you want to create in the coming year.

Not just what you want to accomplish, but how you want to feel.

How you want to move through the world.

How you want to connect with others.

How much joy you want to allow yourself to experience.

And perhaps most importantly, how you want to contribute to the lives of the people you encounter along the way.

You don't need to have it all figured out.

You don't need to be perfect.

You simply need to be willing to show up, be present, and participate in creating the life you want to live.

Because sometimes the moments that light us up the most are the ones we create together.

And sometimes, without even knowing it, the light we bring into a room becomes exactly what someone else needed that day.

Here's to new beginnings, meaningful connections, more laughter, more movement, and more opportunities to light one another up.

I hope your 11/11 is filled with inspiration, gratitude, and the courage to create more of what makes you feel alive.

And I hope to see you on the dance floor Friday!

With love and gratitude,

Shalay ❤️

Dance To Uplift

Live in Love. Move with Meaning. Play Passionately.