Over the last month or so, I’ve been taking Quenia Ribeiro’s samba class at Alvin Ailey in NYC. At my first class, I just wanted a fun way to work up a sweat. Since visiting Brazil in 2006, I’ve had a desire to learn the basic samba step, so I signed up. I fumbled my way through the routines, but you couldn’t tell me I wasn’t fly that day! I shimmied to the live percussion and sweat it out to samba techniques from both Rio and Bahia. I loved it. 

Now, I’m obsessed. I LOVE SAMBA!! I haven’t perfected the moves, but this class makes me so happy! The music fills me and lifts me up, and I love that I’m learning something new. I’ve been dancing for as long as I can remember and the Saturday samba class has reconnected me with one of things I love to do the most. I’m able to just let everything go, and have fun.

With some practice, maybe you’ll catch me one day in a carnival line or circle, shakin’ it like these dancers…

I loooove to dance, but what are some of the activities that fill you up and bring you joy? I’d love to know!