A Point Edward woman is crediting a local dance group for helping lift her out of mental health lows experienced in the past few years.
Sandra Laranja, 57, joined the Latin Fire Dance Company about a year and a half ago.
"I wanted to involve myself in a group setting to socialize more," Laranja said. "I like dancing and I figured that, with dancing, it's more of an intimate and connected thing to do. I needed to get out there because of the outcome of my life through COVID."
Laranja said she isolated so much during the pandemic, it was difficult falling back into a social routine.
"I found that [dancing] was extremely therapeutic for me," she said. "So what I'd do once a week, turned into sometimes seven days a week and we'd see each other quite often. They would post different social events from here all the way to Cambridge, we've gone to Toronto as a group, done galas... things that I would have never done on my own."
In fact, Laranja started noticing significant changes in her mental health within five months.
"I thought, 'Wow, I don't remember the last time I felt down and under the weather, or what we call depressed or sad,' because there was a lot of movement happening. Not just physically, but mentally, and I did contribute [the improvement] to the dance group."
Laranja is encouraging other individuals, who've fallen into similar situations, to consider putting themselves out there.
"I think that people should consider trying, because once they try they'll realize that there's more to life than staying at home and watching T.V.," she said.
Latin Fire Dance Company has received approval to host "Arts on the Streets" on some Fridays in July and August.
The first, free/pedestrian-only, event will be held on July 5 on Lochiel Street, between Front and Christina streets, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
More information about the group can be found on its Facebook page.