One woman embarked on a dance journey around the world, finding out how each dance tells a story of its country and learning how beautiful life can be when you take the lead.

If you could do anything you wanted, what would it be? Alienor Salmon was working as a happiness researcher in Bangkok when a friend asked her the question that turned life as she knew it on its heels. A novice dancer but experienced social researcher, the Franco-British Alienor headed west from Bangkok to dance her way through Latin America. As she learns eighteen dances, each native to the countries she visits, she engages with esoteric customs, traditions, and cultures. Through conversations and arduous studio hours, she learns that every step, pivot, and shake thrums with an undeniable spirit of place. And that in a world where we are over-connected but increasingly disconnected from one another, dance offers an authentically human experience. One that allows her to develop tolerance, kindness, truth, and love by holding the hands of a stranger and gazing into their eyes for the time of a song.

With her fearless and candid approach, Alienor will inspire you to take the reins of your own life-and have some fun along the way. In this dance-travelogue, you'll learn the history and steps of dances like salsa, samba, and tango, enjoy a resplendent meditation on happiness and wanderlust, and receive a life-affirming answer to the question: How do I take the first step?

About the Author

Alienor Salmon is a FrancoBritish writer, researcher, and consultant who has traveled the world studying happiness, education, and emotional development for UNESCO and other international organizations. Through her website, Bailando Journey, she has become a dance influencer and ambassador, promoting the discovery of cultures through dance and dance's multiple benefits for well-being and personal development. In 2018 she received official accreditation for journalistic coverage of the Cali Fair, one of the most important traditional music and dance celebrations in Colombia and Latin America. In 2022 she gave a TEDx talk on her tour of Latin America, learning its dances and about herself in the process, the basis for her book Finding Rhythm. She has since founded the School of Happiness, where she teaches masterclasses on the science of happiness, and she teaches Mindful Latin Flow, a mindful movement class based on Latin rhythms. Alienor currently lives in Lisbon, Portugal.

Book Information
ISBN 9781954641839
Author Alienor Salmon
Format Paperback
Page Count 400
Imprint Apollo Publishers
Publisher Apollo Publishers