For Nana, dancing has always been a source of joy! Since her youth, the digital marketer and mother-of-two says she finds happiness in movement and music.
“Dancing is my soft life. It’s when I’m not stressed or responsible for anything other than my happiness,” Nana tells BrownStyle Magazine exclusively. “Dancing has become part of my life. I do it when I wake up, when I’m cooking when I’m cleaning, and just about every moment I want to feel joyous. It’s routine for me. When I dance, I feel free. I love who I am when I’m dancing, and I love how I feel.”
Growing up in an African household, music was the soundtrack of Nana’s life — whether it was gospel music in the kitchen or high-energy tunes.
“I’ve always associated dance with joy,” she explains. “I have incredibly fond memories of growing up in an African household in the UK and Afrobeats playing on full blast. From the moment I woke up, music was playing in our house. If my mum wasn’t dancing to gospel music in the kitchen, then my dad would be tapping away to any song by Daddy Lumba. Those memories always make me smile.”
A Journey of Self-Discovery
At 33, Nana found herself disconnected. Despite having a supportive husband, a successful career, and two beautiful children, something was missing.
“I was lost in my mind and body. I’d had two beautiful kids, an incredibly loving husband, and a good job. I had great friends and was enjoying those things. That’s enough to make someone happy and content, but I wasn’t. I missed being active, but going to the gym or running wasn’t right for me. I had tried them both in the past but I was obsessed with losing weight at that time. I didn’t have the greatest relationship with my body, and I felt totally disconnected from it,” she expresses candidly.
That’s when she discovered samba.
“I decided to try samba. I didn’t know what to expect but I was really looking for a new challenge. I needed it to be dance-related and I needed it to not be easy,” she adds.
Although self-conscious at first, online classes during the 2020 lockdown in the UK proved to be a blessing. With her family’s unwavering support, Nana put on her dancing shoes and excitedly embraced the journey to finding her inner joy.
“After the first class in Feb 2020, the UK went into lockdown in March 2020 and my lessons moved online. This turned out great for me as I was still self-conscious about being in a class, so I was thankful to be able to learn at home,” Nana shares, adding her family was super supportive.
“One thing that made this possible was how incredibly supportive my family was. My kids would join me in the kitchen when I was dancing, which always made me smile and laugh. My husband would take on more duties at home so I had the time to take classes and enjoy my growth and development,” she adds.
Inspiring Others Through Dance
When she began learning samba, she saw a lack of representation for women like her. To hopefully inspire other moms to step outside of their comfort zones and stay consistent, Nana began documenting her dance journey on social media.
“I decided to post my journey on social media so I would be accountable for my progression, and it would continue to inspire me to keep going. That was the best decision I made for myself,” she shares. “I never expected it to inspire so many people. The number of messages from people saying they took up samba after seeing my videos is moving for me! Social media has become incredibly curated, but everyone’s journey starts somewhere, and I wanted people to know my journey.”
Fast-forward to today, Nana teaches women in London and worldwide to embrace the joy of dance through inclusive in-person and online twerk and samba classes.
“My classes are about understanding that whoever you are, you are worthy of taking up space in a dance class and enjoying moving your body,” she shares about the vibe of her lessons, which helps women of all ages celebrate their bodies.
“I’ve been fortunate to help a lot of lovely women celebrate their 40s and 50s by wanting to learn to twerk. My classes are not about coming and being perfect. I love that I get people of all shapes, sizes, and abilities,” the dance instructor explains. “They come to better themselves, reconnect with their bodies, and enjoy being around other people who want to do the same. There’s nothing more empowering than being in a room full of people who want to succeed and also want you to succeed, which is what I’ve cultivated in my classes. My classes are about doing something for yourself, no matter your shape or size.”
Using Samba Dancing To Feel Empowered
For anyone seeking empowerment through dance, Nana suggests embracing the discomfort and vulnerability that comes with trying something new.
“Don’t be afraid to try something new just because you don’t see someone that looks like you doing it. To feel and find empowerment, you need to go through many emotions and periods of feeling uncomfortable. The most incredible thing is that every time you go through one of those periods, you come out having grown and understanding more about yourself. That’s what dance can give you. You can feel incredibly uncomfortable learning something new, but the more you practice, grow, and stay consistent the more empowered you’ll begin to feel,” she reveals.
She continues, “Empowerment doesn’t come immediately, and when it comes sometimes it can leave. The important thing to do is to note down the moments when you do feel empowered. It could be because you tried a new style and it felt good or you found the right teacher for you and they made you feel proud of yourself. Whatever it is, celebrate those moments and know that empowerment will come as your confidence in yourself, your abilities, and your decisions strengthen. “
To learn more about Nana and her dance classes, visit thisblackwomancan.com and give her a follow on Instagram!
