How in the world did my family and myself think I was going to be an architect? 😅
As a child I was constantly dancing, in my room or wherever there was music.
There were no dance classes to my availability growing up.
I just spent hours in my room dancing and creating choreographies, hoping one day I will be Jennifer Lopez’s back-up dancer.
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I came to The Netherlands 15 years ago to study… you guessed it. Architecture!
I hated it.
Quit.
Went to study interior architecture at the art academy.
Hated it.
Quit.
And there I was completely lost and hopeless in what I am to do in life…
And then I had a taekwondo teacher who told me “Listen, I give a dance class to women, they want to shake their hips, I am not gonna do that. I know you like to dance. Do you want to teach half of my class?”
Then and there I felt “YES!”
With zero prior experience I prepped the class and went to give half of the class.
After class I thought yes… yes… this is what I want to do for the rest of my life, inshallah. Inshallah.
I had to fight for this passion.
It’s not the path that is most wanted for an Arab woman.
As a matter of fact it’s more of a nightmare for every Arab parent.
But with time even my family saw that I will be much more successful and happier being a dancer than an architect. (No shade to architects 😅)
And here I stand almost 12 years of teaching later.. still so passionate about dancing and teaching dance.
Alhamdullilah.
Inshallah I will keep on dancing (with you) until my last day on this earth. Old wrinkly lady shimmying with you. Inshallah!
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When did you start dancing?
And if you feel called to dance, know it’s never too late to start. You are always welcome to dance with me my dear!