Back when I was still on the Dancesport (that's ballroom/partner dancing) team, I used to fling all my stress out of the way as I rocked the floor in my dance shoes. I would completely immerse myself in the music and dance, forgetting about the rest of the world. Dancing was all it mattered.

Now, in fashion school, I barely even have time to breathe. But when I stopped listening exclusively to J-Rock and let my iPod run loose on shuffle mode, I couldn't help but rediscover old favourites I used to listen to on the Dancesport Society's giant boom box I used to lug around with me...In These Shoes...Hafanana...42nd Street...Vive La Vida (Sube Que Sube)...I've had enough of sitting around and before I knew it, I was on my feet, trying to recall some of the basic variations, making up new basic routines and improvising in my bedroom, dancing until I was sweating like I just came out of the shower.

It felt great I tell you! Releasing all those uptight feelings by flicking and kicking in my jive, doing basic variations of my cha cha, practicing my 8 beat groupings in my samba, controlling my arm movements in my rumba...and yet managing to glide halfway around my bedroom (!) to I'm Still Standing...complete with spin turns (!!!) in the quickstep...there have been moments when I felt flashes of forgetfulness and was simply enjoying the liberation after months of not moving my hips in specific ways.

It's like a form of reminiscence - the steps I've done a countless number of times...every cucaracha, bota fogo, sliding door, chasse, volta, fan, chicken walk, rope spin, American spin...all hold special meaning in me, even if I do forget some of them. I will never be a professional dancer, but I really do miss those moments when I had to reach for the self-tanner and hairspray.

Actually, now that I think about it, forcing yourself to move in a certain manner, combined with the music, really does make you feel like a different person altogether (at least momentarily). When Mira Pa'Dentro was playing, I turned into a demon from cheekyland - that cheeky cha cha cha full of flirtatious energy wanting to make fun of the guy who's "chasing" after you was infectious.

From Project 365 (v.2010)

It's my iPod playing "Tell You Tell Me" (a cha cha piece) on my player. I was removing old nail polish at the time (hence the remover) and next to it is a blusher from Benefit and a sample bottle of BVLGARI AQVA POUR HOMME cologne. Yes, I have a perfume obsession, and, if the chemistry between my blood and the scent is right, even men's stuff can smell good on me.