Dance + Activism: How To *Actually* Change The World

“To watch us dance is to hear our hearts speak.” – Indian Proverb

The Long Walk Towards Something Better

The walk (or dance) towards something better can feel long, lonely, and futile. 

There are many moments of wondering why you even bothered in the first place, and wondering if anyone out there even hears what you’re saying, let alone cares.

Whether it’s climate change activism, social justice work, or even just advocating for yourself, it is easy to lose hope but imperative not to. 

You’ll get there one day, and when you do, it will be worth it. 

Today though, I’m not asking you to take my word for it. 

Instead, I want to share with you some lessons from the world of dance on how to create impact while maintaining hope and joy.

Dance Lesson #1: Repetition does not equal futility. 

In dance, the same steps rehearsed over and over create transformation—not just in performance, but in the performer. 

Change often feels invisible until it’s embodied. 

Activism and social entrepreneurship are no different. Every email, every march, every tough conversation is a rehearsal for a freer world.

So when you feel that sense of growing hopelessness, remember that when you “go through the motions”, even when you don’t feel like it, you are still creating change. 

How To Apply This

1. Set a micro goal and repeat it daily — e.g., write to one local representative per week, or spend 5 minutes daily reading about an issue you care about.
2. Track your repetitions — use a calendar or habit tracker to visually see your consistency and remind yourself of your progress.
3. Reframe “going through the motions” — when you feel bored or burned out, remind yourself this is part of the transformation process, not a sign of failure.
4. Reflect monthly — journal or record a short voice note about what’s shifted in you over time from your repeated actions.
5. Celebrate the small wins — every message sent, every conversation had, every resource shared contributes to collective change. Name them.
6. Use repetition as resistance — when systems want you to give up, continuing to show up is itself a rebellious act. Treat consistency as protest.
7. Teach or share what you’ve repeated — guide a friend through a task you now know by heart.

Dance Lesson #2: Harness the pause. 

In dance, movement without breath leads to collapse. Throughout every step, you must breathe, and it’s through this breath that you recognize your space in the room and the state of your body. 

When we want to create change, we often think of action- adding on a big new step that changes the world. 

But what if change is also about what we take away- taking away the sense of guilt that can come with feeling joy in a world overcome with suffering, taking away the stress and anxiety of overcommitting just to “feel useful”, taking away the belief that change is only possible if we sacrifice. 

Rest is an important pillar of creating impact. 

At the end of the day, stepping back doesn’t mean giving up—it means honoring your body and your rhythm.

How To Apply This

1. Schedule a weekly “no” moment — set aside 30 minutes each week to not do anything, no matter how small. Let that be your breath.
2. Create a joy ritual — deliberately engage in something that brings you joy, even in tough times: music, cooking, nature, dancing. Let yourself have it.
3. Try “pause journaling” — each day, write down one thing you chose not to do in service of your mental health or energy.
4. Unsubscribe or unfollow — once a week, remove one source of noise or urgency from your digital world.
5. Learn from nature — take a short walk without a podcast or phone. Just notice. Breathe. Let your body recalibrate.
6. Rest without guilt — when you take a break, write a sticky note: “This rest is a contribution to the world I’m building.”
7. Say “no” with love — practice declining commitments with grace. You don’t owe overextension to anyone.

Dance Lesson #3: Presence is the goal.

Don’t make perfect the enemy of good (or the enemy of progress).

In dance, much like in advocacy work, missteps are inevitable. The question is not how to have perfect execution straight from the get-go, but how to stay present with any errors you commit and learn how to improvise.

Always comparing yourself to a gold-standard future outcome makes every small step feel futile. Instead, try to measure your progress day-to-day, moment-to-moment. 

This might also highlight some areas where you can align better with the values that are important in your work and your life. 

How To Apply This

1. Start each day with a grounding ritual — a stretch, a breath, a mantra like “I am here. This is enough.”
2. Shift from outcome to process — ask yourself, “What do I want to experience today, not just accomplish?”
3. Notice when you compare — gently call yourself out when you start focusing on the ideal instead of the real.
4. Celebrate honest mistakes — once a week, share something that didn’t go to plan and what it taught you.
5. Use sensory anchors — when overwhelmed, notice five things you can see, hear, or feel to return to the moment.
6. Check in with your values — once a week, ask: “Am I still aligned with what matters most to me?”
7. Replace “perfect” with “present” — next time you’re unsure how to show up, just aim to be truly there.

Dance Lesson #4: Find your ensemble. 

Another way to avoid feeling burnout is to find your ensemble. 

This might mean you find a team of people to work on the same project with, but it could also mean working alongside others who are doing similar work. 

Whatever it looks like for you, find your people. 

It will make life 1000x easier, allow you to reinforce your own skills with the talents of others, delegate, lean on others when you need help, and just enjoy the overall process more deeply. 

Change happens when we move together- not just in unison, but in deep connection. 

Even when your solo feels isolating, there is always an ensemble waiting for you.

How To Apply This

1. Join one group aligned with your interests — a local club, Discord server, reading circle, group of friends or online forum.
2. Collaborate on a small project — even if it’s just co-hosting a one-time workshop or writing a blog post with a friend.
3. Send one message a week — reach out to someone whose work you admire, even briefly, and express interest in connecting.
4. Practice peer check-ins — have a 15-minute weekly call with someone doing similar work to share challenges and victories.
5. Celebrate others — spotlight a teammate or peer publicly once a month. Appreciation builds connection.
6. Co-work virtually — share quiet focus time with others via Zoom or in person to stay accountable and connected.
7. Ask for help — once a month, practice the vulnerable art of leaning on someone else. It deepens trust.

Dance Lesson #5: Embody first. 

Everyone hates a hypocrite. 

Growing up, it’s the first thing we pick apart in our parents, and one of the most common complaints about people we don’t like. 

The tricky part comes when we turn the analytical laser back towards ourselves. 

To be a good leader, this act of constantly bridging the gap between your words and your practice is crucial. 

If others can see the holes, they will not be inspired to embody what you stand for either. 

Embody the change you want to see in others. It will keep your followers loyal.

How To Apply This

1. Audit your actions vs. values — choose one value (e.g. compassion, sustainability) and ask, “How do I show this daily?”
2. Start with yourself — before asking others to change, take a step that reflects the shift you want to see.
3. Use “I” language — speak from your own commitments and lived experience, not just ideals.
4. Model the behavior — if you want a team or family to communicate better, practice that openly.
5. Invite accountability — ask a friend or mentor to point out when your actions aren’t aligning with your values.
6. Simplify your message — boil your beliefs down to one sentence and ensure your life reflects it.
7. Lead from example, not ego — let your embodiment be quiet but consistent. People notice integrity.

Thought to Action 

1. Conversation: Engage in curiosity-based conversations with more people from outside your area of expertise, your industry & your culture. 
2. Journaling: Use journaling to track your progress in all areas of your life, including when you are advocating for the issues you care about. 
3. History: Learn from the creative geniuses of history how to leverage the tools we have today to generate impactful solutions to the world’s biggest challenges. 
4. Self-educate:  Leverage the plethora of free podcasts, YouTube videos, Coursera courses, and more to expand your mind and empower you to solve the problems you care about. 
5. Habits: Apply these 3 methods to start thinking outside of the box by switching up your routines and changing the way you look at the world around you. 

Sources

No external sources were used for this article.