A night on the dance floor reminded me of the power of seeking joy

At 50, I’m realizing there are a lot of things I’ve stopped doing: nightclubs, late nights, obsessing over my hair, changing my outfit three times before leaving the house, staring at my phone waiting for a boy to call, and caring way too much about what other people think.

That’s the beauty of aging, and of living with multiple sclerosis (MS). I’ve intentionally made my life smaller, quieter, and simpler. I’m more comfortable in my skin now, and there’s not much anyone can say or do to sway me.

Until New Year’s Eve, that is, when I felt an itch to be 25 again. Was that even possible?

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November 1, 2024 Columns by Susan Payrovi, MD

The joy and vulnerability of dance help me live with multiple sclerosis

Traveling back in time

Twenty-five years ago, I was a medical student, working and studying nonstop. But there was also so much joy. Emotions were bigger. Everything felt more intense. I had enthusiasm for everything. The world was vivid and loud, and friendships mattered so much.

So I called the man responsible for my sanity in med school and told him to meet me on the dance floor on New Year’s Eve. Alex wasn’t just my study partner; he was the best dance partner anyone could ask for, with impeccable taste in Eurodance music, boundless energy, and razor-sharp humor. Kylie Minogue, Daft Punk, and Modjo were the soundtrack of our days, whether we were on the wards or in the clubs.

In the days leading up to the big night, we joked about how we’d survive it. I planned to put Bengay and Salonpas on my sacroiliac joint and take a serious nap beforehand. Alex bought table service so we wouldn’t have to stand all night. He promised we’d leave the club by 11 p.m.

None of it went according to plan.

Alex Balekian and Susan Payrovi celebrate New Year’s Eve with a night of dancing. (Courtesy of Susan Payrovi)

We walked in, heard the music, and danced nonstop for nearly four hours. I forgot the Bengay, the Salonpas, and the nap. None of it mattered. We danced longer and harder than people half our age.

We still had it!

For a few glorious hours, I was 25 again. Our signature dance moves resurfaced. We laughed at inside jokes that Alex’s husband and best friend, who were accompanying us, didn’t get. We sweated like it was 2001.

This was only the second time I’d seen Alex since graduating med school, and it felt like no time had passed at all. There is truly nothing like old friends — the ones who knew us when we were young and still figuring out who we were going to be. Alex and I were in each other’s lives when we were awkward, unsure, and scared to write a prescription for Tylenol.

I want more dancing in my life now, even if it means breaking my vow of serenity. I’m intentionally inviting more joy and connection, because being with the people I love and doing what feels joyful are some of the most powerful ways to live a longer, happier life — something supported by the Harvard Study of Adult Development, which has been running for more than 85 years.

That lifelong love of dance eventually became The Myelin Room — my online dance club, born from a conversation with Alex a quarter-century ago. True to my love of going to bed earlier than most toddlers, we meet monthly on Zoom at 10 a.m. PT.

I hope you’ll join us, because dancing is true medicine — especially when you’re living with MS or any chronic illness.

Note: Multiple Sclerosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Multiple Sclerosis News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis.