From Utah to India: Finding Healing and Joy Through Dance in Leprosy Colonies

Every time I prepare to teach in India, my heart is filled with anticipation. The memories of teaching dance to children and dancing in the leprosy colonies flood back to me with such vividness that it feels like yesterday. These aren’t just memories of steps or music; they’re memories of soul-level connection, moments that have reshaped the way I view joy, healing, and the power of movement.

One of the most unforgettable experiences came during my first trip to India with my oldest daughter. We had traveled outside of Chennai to the Mogal Vadi colony, a place filled with resilience, strength, and an indescribable warmth. There, I met Jaharaj, a man whose infectious smile and boundless spirit stole my heart. Despite living in what many would call modest or even harsh circumstances, he radiated a joy that could light up an entire village.

When we arrived, Jaharaj greeted us with open arms and a boom box, ready to celebrate. “Welcome!” he called out, pressing play as the music spilled into the air. Without hesitation, he began to dance, his movements full of life, his joy contagious. Within moments, we were dancing together, laughter ringing louder than the music. In that moment, I felt as though our souls had met, bypassing every barrier of language, culture, or circumstance.

I can not wait until the next time I return to Mogal Vadi to dance with Jaharaj once again. The thought of reconnecting with him reminds me that true happiness comes from within, not from what we own or what life hands us, but from the way we choose to embrace love and joy in every moment.

The Work of Rising Star Outreach

These experiences are made possible by the incredible organization I partner with, Rising Star Outreach. Rising Star has dedicated itself to uplifting communities affected by leprosy in India, people who, for generations, have lived on the margins of society, often stigmatized and excluded.

Their mission is threefold:

• Medical Care – providing essential treatment, surgeries, and ongoing support to those suffering from the effects of leprosy.

• Education – offering children opportunities through quality schooling so they can step into a brighter future.

• Community Development – helping families achieve self-reliance through micro-loans, clean water projects, and infrastructure support.

  
  

Rising Star’s approach is holistic, addressing not just the disease but the dignity of every person. By creating pathways for healing, education, and opportunity, they empower individuals and families to rise above the stigma and step into new possibilities.

Teaching Dance at Little Flower

Another memory etched deeply in my heart is teaching dance at the Little Flower community in Bihar. Here, children greeted me with a kind of excitement that only dance can spark. Their eyes lit up, their bodies moved with eagerness, and every beat of the music became an opportunity for them to express themselves.

Despite the challenges they faced, whether from poverty, stigma, or daily hardships, dance gave them a place to be free. They laughed, they spun, they clapped along, and they danced with such heart and talent that it humbled me. I realized once again that dance is not just art, it is medicine for the soul, joy, and connection all at once.

Each class became a reminder: joy is not dependent on circumstances. These children, with their openness and courage, showed me that dance is not about perfect technique; it’s about expressing who you are and connecting with others in a shared rhythm of life.

Why Dance Matters in Healing

As a dancer, teacher, and coach, I’ve always believed that movement is more than steps; it’s a language of the soul. But my time in the colonies and with the children of India reinforced this truth in ways I could never have imagined.

• Dance heals.

• Dance connects.

• Dance uplifts.

When we dance, we allow our nervous systems to release stored fear, stress, and trauma. Paired with intentional practices like breathwork, a technique I weave into my Dance to Uplift classes here in Utah, the results are profound. Studies confirm that breathwork can calm the nervous system, reduce anxiety, and even shift us out of survival mode (learn more here).

For many survivors of trauma (myself included), fear can feel paralyzing. Yet, when we bring breath and movement together, something changes. Our bodies find safety. Our minds open up. Our spirits rediscover joy. And in communities like Mogal Vadi or Little Flower, I’ve seen firsthand how music and dance can bridge divides, restore dignity, and remind people of their worth.

Lessons for All of Us

You don’t have to travel halfway across the world to learn these lessons. Whether you’re in Utah County searching for West Coast Swing classes, exploring somatic dance for healing, or simply looking for ways to reconnect with joy in your everyday life, the principles are the same:

• Connection over perfection. Dance isn’t about the perfect step; it’s about the relationship between you, your partner, the music, and the moment.

• Joy over fear. Fear will always whisper that you’re not enough. Joy reminds you that you already are.

• Love as the guiding light. Whether on the social dance floor or in a leprosy colony in India, love is the force that transforms everything.

  
  

This is why my studio, Dance to Uplift, is about more than teaching steps. It’s about creating spaces where people, women, couples, and families can experience healing, connection, and joy through movement.

Bringing It Back Home

When I think of Jaharaj dancing with his boom box, or the children at Little Flower spinning with laughter, I’m reminded that the work of Rising Star Outreach is not just transforming lives in India, it’s transforming mine, too. It’s teaching me to look beyond fear, beyond circumstances, and into the eyes of joy.

And I believe that’s something we all need.

In a world filled with stress, comparison, and constant noise, dance is an invitation back to ourselves. It’s a chance to breathe, to connect, to laugh, and to remember what truly matters. If people in the most challenging circumstances can radiate joy through movement, then surely we, too, can learn to embrace joy in our own lives.

An Invitation

So whether you’re:

• A woman in her 40s rediscovering her confidence after years of giving to others,

• A couple in Utah County looking for a way to reconnect beyond the daily grind, or

• Someone curious about how dance can help release stress and bring healing

  
  

I invite you to join me. Join me in choosing joy over fear. Join me in using movement as medicine. And, if you feel called, join me on a trip to India, supporting the life-changing work of Rising Star Outreach.

Because together, whether in Utah or in India, we can dance in a way that uplifts, heals, and transforms.

Closing Thought

As I get ready to open my classes, I carry this truth with me: Joy is not a luxury. Joy is a choice. Joy is a practice. And joy, expressed through dance, has the power to heal hearts, connect souls, and uplift communities, anywhere in the world.

May we all have the courage to dance, to connect, and to love as freely as Jaharaj and the children of Bihar. And may our lives become a reflection of that joy.