10,000 Reasons to Dance

131) "Because, there's just more to life than TPS reports!"—Tim Yarborough, Raleigh, NC

130) "I dance to fly!"—Lavender Grace, Mendocino, CA

129) "Grew up watching my parents dance in the living room just for the sheer joy of it; laughter and dance are the language of the soul, dance is freedom."—Suzanne, Oakland CA/Charleston SC

128) "Stay youthful. Mind, body, soul."—Kelly Baggins, Encinitas

127) "Because it makes you feel free! "—Kellie , Fuquay Varina, NC

126) "Families who dance together, stay together!"—Patricia, Cary, NC

125) "Because it is funny"—Blake Robertson, Vancouver, BC, Canada

124) "I dance around the kitchen with my kids to soothe them when they're upset"—Megan Morrissey, Cary, NC

123) "If the dance is silly enough, you can make anybody laugh."—Trevor, Chapel Hill

122) "I dance because my body knows how to lean into or simply be the truth of the moment. In movement to an inner rhythm or to music, there is always a path to joy. "—Marjorie, Durham

121) "want to know the best way to water your plants? dance with watering cans..."—BUDS ATLANTA, ATLANTA, GA

120) "It helps me regulate my emotions! I feel better in my body when I MOVE IT, MOVE IT. "—Miles, Cary

119) "Because going to the gym sucks, but give me a beat..."—Claudia, AZ

118) "Just have to dance ….."—Coosaw, Beaufort SC

117) "I can't help it. Music touches my soul and moves through my body. Its release the best endorphins that takes away the stress."—Jazzy, Durham

116) "It keeps *things* ... MOVING, if you know what I mean. XD"—Anonymous, Humankind

115) "Joy, release, expression, connecting body to Spirit"—Jeff, Garner

114) "Release the daily troubles"—Haley Benge, Raleigh

113) "It helps me express emotions and feelings that I can't quite label and verbalize. Its free therapy."—Jennifer Case, Garner, NC

112) "Got an "A" on my paper!"—Karyl-Ann Roehl, Topeka, KS, United States

111) "My ankles are flexible"—Larry, Raleigh

110) "What happens under the sombrero, stays under the sombrero. #folkloricodance"—Carolee, Santa Fe, NM

109) "Somebody put a coin in the jukebox"—Ivana Danzk, Raleigh, NC

108) "Dancing makes me feel carefree."—Irina, Raleigh, NC

107) "Because the baby loves the chicken dance"—Kevin W, Raleigh

106) "Dancing is an act of love, joy, release, and the celebration of spirit! It also happens to just feel so good! "—Lenore, Durham, NC

105) "When you get so happy that smiling isn't enough!"—Gigi, Apex, NC

104) "from the immortal Dixie Chicks: "Some days you gotta dance; Live it up when you get the chance; 'Cause when the world doesn't make no sense And you're feeling just a little too tense; Gotta loosen up those chains and dance...""—Jess, Raleigh,NC

103) "I dance because it feels good. My body takes over, with support of the mind, but in coordinated control - body, mind. I like the smile that erupts from my face, as I dance and move, across and through the space. My stomach tells my mind a funny feeling, and my legs wiggle words into my thoughts, with the arms telling the story, in aughts and nots. The body wriggles and writhes, all in control, in pleasure from side"—Charles Schroeder, Apex, NC

102) "Dance party every Friday"—Dana, Lexington, Ky

101) "Dancing is the one thing that can release unidentified emotions that we couldnt process, research has proven its unique ability to improve the brain and increases the feel good hormones without pharmaceuticals. I love dance."—Jennifer Case, Garner, NC

100) "Dancing protects the brain (google it!) :)"—Susan, Baltimore, MD

99) "Tap dancing was my favorite growing up - moving to music AND making music with subtle changes in movement of your feet just puts me in a good mood."—Kristin Sherman, Atlanta, GA

98) "Food tastes better if you dance while you eat it!"—Laura Vancosky, Raleigh, NC

97) "There are no good memories without dancing"—Justine, Duarte, CA

96) ""Life's a dance. You learn as you go." "—Faith , Azusa, CA

95) "My wife Laura is an incredible dancer who often starts the party. I think its that Japanese blood mixed with Latino culture. I dance for her and with our daughters, but I have my own natural moves, as all great dancers do- making them up on the spot."—Michael Bagby, Vero Beach Florida & Utila Honduras

94) "Dancing is my external way of expressing the joy in my soul when I hear great music!"—Randy S., Abingdon, VA

93) "To impress my lady."—Peter, Raleigh, NC

92) "For the soul of it"—Phoenix Rector , Raleigh NC

91) "Dance for love, dance fo joy, dance for our mountains, dance for clean air. Dance for all that you do !!"—Larry Bean, Asheville

90) ""Could I have been...a dancing Nancy.....a dancing Nancy...could I have been anyone other than me? Then I sing and dance...sha la la hey la la hey la la la" "—Steve Plato, Fredericksburg, VA

89) ""I've got those ten little tapping toes, and when they hear a tune, I can't control my dancing heels to save my soul. Weary blues can't get into my shoes because my shoes refuse to ever grow weary. I keep cheerful on an earful of music sweet, 'Cause I've got happ happ happy feet!" Kermit the Frog"—Maria Mitchell, Wilmington, NC

88) "Dancing gives me immense joy and a way to express my feelings, as well as "infecting" people with the happiness" - Dibi Allison, Glasgow"—Dibi Allison, Glasgow

87) "My late grandpa once said "Life's more fun when you're doing 85 in a 45"... I dance to keep his spirit alive!"—Doug, Hillsborough

86) "Because nobody puts Baby in a corner! "—Scoop Ice Cream and Coffee, Lake Lure, NC - filming location for Dirty Dancing

85) "My soul expression!"—Suzana, Rio de Janeiro/Brasil

84) "It gives me JOY... I dance for the gifts from Jesus!"—Nina, Wisconsin

83) "For the "health" of it! :)"—Fritz, Southern Pines NC

82) "I wake up to see the light of the sun upon my wife's beautiful face and at the same time hear my son singing happily in the other room... I dance for I am blessed! "—Alfonso , Raleigh, NC

81) "Sometimes you've just gotta let loose!"—Max, Gdansk, Poland

80) "Dancing is physical expression of emotion! Everyone should do it - it's good for your soul."—Alix Sotomayor, Cary, NC

79) "A joyful expression!"—Patti L., Kernersville

78) "From ballet, modern, to dancing with my son at his wedding, dancing and music is a direct shot of happiness to my soul and I know it must exist in heaven. This is peace."—Susan, Raleigh

77) "When I dance, I worship the Creator of the Universe and feel connected to beauty. "—Sherry Carlstrom, Cary, NC

76) "It unlocks my soul! I am free!"—Ruth J, Morrisville, NC

75) "I have trouble staying still anyway, and it looks less weird than random body jerks. And I love it!"—Dana, Vero Beach, FL

74) "I dance to allow my body to move peacefully through space to music being played, or the music in my head. Pure joy!"—Anna Campbell, Wilmington, NC

73) "it lets me be me!"—Teresa, Henderson, NC

72) "Why not?"—Carlee, Wake Forest, NC

71) "So that my wife laughs so hard that she makes her great squeak sound"—Jeff, Las Vegas, NV

70) "So that I can listen to Bollywood music with my little kids and teach them Hindi as they have fun!"—Chika Gujarathi, Raleigh, NC

69) "I dance to make memories with my ailing mother."—Lisa, Walstonburg, NC

68) "…to fully and joyfully participate in the dance of life…"—Nan, Raleigh, NC

67) "being super-caffeinated all of the time!"—Sarah, Chapel Hill, NC

66) "Because the line for the bathroom is too long."—Jusstin, Raleigh, NC

65) "Redowa: It's the Peter Pan of Dance. To Zoom across the floor, hovering above like little pixies are lifting us from our shoulders. That's magic. And that’s the Redowa!"—Mr. Bean, Raleigh, NC

64) "I dance because I am loved."—Karen, Garner, NC

63) "There's nothing like a good swing during a contra dnace! Plus the connection with your partner and the other dancers."—Kim, Asheville, NC

62) "Dance to remind yourself that you shouldn't be self conscious. ^_^"—Kyu Jones, Irvine, CA

61) "It mortifies my wife when I do it in public"—Chris, Raleigh, NC

60) "To teach my son it doesn't matter what you look like when you're doing it, you should still go ahead and do it."—Kayla Simon, Maryland

59) "I'm Cuban, es en mi sangre, BAILE, SI SE PUEDE!"—Joanna Crell-Arias, Raleigh and la Habana Cuba

58) "Dancing lets out all the joy inside me!"—Spoma, Greensboro, NC

57) "Good for the soul… great way to exercise and keep fit."—Mom, North Las Vegas

56) "To let my spirit fly free."—Ellie, Virginia

55) "Psalm 30:11"—Nikki, Little Rock, AK

54) "Without dancing, music is just really cool sounding noise."—Susie, Durham, NC

53) "As Worship… death to my pride. As a love language… wordless communion. As worship… wordless communion. As love language… death to my pride."—Lloyd, Washington, DC

52) "Dancing (when done with abandon) is the one thing that makes all my worries disappear."—Lanya Shapiro, Durham, NC

51) "It adds smiles to the soul."—Pamela, Berwyn, PA

50) "To liberate my inner spirit."—Lorena, Monterrey, Mexico

49) "Dwelling in moments / of clarity, elation / Soaring deep, we dance."—Donia Alexandra, Santa Cruz, CA

48) "Dance is the merging of music with the body, besides, it's sexy."—Debby, Concord, NH

47) "So I can be silly with my three year old."—Renee, Raleigh, NC

46) "When the music starts, I just can't help it. "—Jim Williams, Charlottesville, CA

45) "It brings me closer to ecstacy - my spirit guides dance with me."—Mel, Westfield, VT

44) "It makes my heart feel full!"—Jacky Nelson, Sandy, UT

43) "To celebrate the world."—Elizabeth, Winston Salem, NC

42) "It satisfies the crave"—Bright, Raleigh, NC

41) "there's no sadness while dancing"—Ali, Nevada

40) "It keeps me from taking life too seriously"—Barb, Asheville, NC

39) "it's like ice-skating… My feet, shoes, the wood floor, my partners hands, back and air around her feel as of a single shared plane while moving about. Each step pressing into the grain and the grain pushing back, like air hockey. The barrage of moves."—Larry, Raleigh, NC

38) "Because it's a beautiful day in Boston!"—Laura, Lubbock, TX

37) "I'm inspired to dance because of my 3-year-old daughter (who dances everywhere she goes)!"—Becky, Greensboro, NC

36) "To feel alive and joy."—Maria, Raleigh, NC

35) "Because we'll never accomplish anything just standing still..!"—Ellen, Vermont

34) "Because it's 12:06pm and raining."—Andrew, Raleigh,NC

33) "The world is a ballroom."—Daniel Ramirez, Greensboro, NC

32) "I dance when my insides are happy and the butterflies are trying to get out."—Holly Wagner, Swansea, SC

31) "Because as a big guy, nobody's ever come up to me and said "You know, I expected you to be a better dancer than you are…"—Michael J, KCMO

30) "It's a joyful expression of uninhibited happiness."—Sandra Fergusson, Raleigh, NC

29) "to sing with my feet"—Liz, Philadelphia

28) "Mountain sides a flame with the color of fall"—Kelly, In the Moment

27) "sanity, pure and simple - keeps me sane"—Tanner, New York

26) "Because it makes my boy laugh and join in."—Larry, NC

25) "To reflect and reinforce culturally endemic work patterns."—Horace, Appalachia

24) "There's nothing else to do when theres music (:"—Krinka, Sacremento, CA

23) "Driving down the road, a great song comes on and the hiney dance begins!!! It makes me happy. "—Sharon, Raleigh

22) "Sometimes a girl just has to get her moves out!"—Barbara Norman, Denver, NC

21) "I SMILE SMILE SMILE and experience the moment immensely."—Larry,

20) "Beautiful sunshine and an awesome pot of coffee… first thing in the morning, and last thing in the eve!!! "—Tina Louise, Boone, NC

19) "I'm pretty uptight, but even I can't help but dance sometimes! "—Leah, Phoenix, AZ

18) "It makes me feel like I'm floating and it makes me smile. "—Torrie, NC

17) "Because it is a way to feel pure unadulterated joy! "—Allison, Hot Springs, NC

16) "It's the only way that I can let go of this world and commune directly with God… a straight musical connection of the soul to Heaven. Dancing expresses all that I feel and my thankfulness for God allowing me to be?"—Julie, Raeford, NC

15) "just follow emma goldman's suggestion. Happy (almost) may day, everyone. "—Deborah Grace, Hillsborough, NC

14) "I love music, love you move my body, and dancing is a tradition, Dancing is something I like to do. "—Mariah Miller, Cincinnati, OH

13) "Heaven will be my home, a gift by grace, from Jesus Christ"—Lyndie, Mechanicsburg, IL

12) "Can't control my feet when they hear music!"—Mike, Columbia, SC

11) "THE ASPHALT IS HOT!!!"—Ken, James Island, SC

10) "My two new titanium knees demand it!"—Lacy Maddox, Raleigh, NC

9) "Phish is coming!!!!"—BarefootMama420, Jamestown, NC

8) "It reminds me that I'm a body and a soul, not just a mind."—Ami, East Lansing, MI

7) "Best way to keep you groovy"—Connie, Raleigh, NC

6) "Ants in my pants"—Tim, New York, NY

5) "Larry's in my mug"—Alan W, Southwest Raleigh

4) "Always looking for an excuse!"—Lee Pike, Raleigh, NC

3) "Chicks dig it."—Ernest H, Raleigh, NC

2) "smiles, love, and joy of connecting with my partner."—Larry L, Raleigh, NC

1) "For no reason at all"—Kevin W, Raleigh, NC