Finding Rhythm

A happiness researcher set out on an international dance journey, 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. The Franco-British Alienor wanted to learn to dance, and so she set off on a journey to New York City and then Latin America. She danced her way through Mexico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Brazil, and Argentina and learned eighteen dances in total—everything from salsa to cha-cha, reggaeton to samba, tango, bachata, merengue, and more. As Alienor engaged with esoteric customs and cultures, she discovered that every step, pivot, and shake thrums with an undeniable spirit of place. In a world where we are over-connected but increasingly disconnected from one another, dance offers an authentically human experience. One that promotes tolerance, kindness, and vulnerability by holding the hands of a stranger and gazing into their eyes for the length of a song. This one-of-a-kind dance-travelogue is a resplendent meditation on happiness, connection, and wanderlust, as well as a superb up-close look at the history, steps, and development of the world's most remarkable dances. With her courageous and candid approach, Alienor will also inspire you to take the reins of your own life, to find what makes you happy and summon the courage to take the first step.