Just the thought of writing this gives me butterflies in my belly! I’ve often thought about why I feel this way and the only answer I get is…connection.

Connection with the sounds and vibrations, connection with the flow and movement, connection with the people and places but most importantly…the connection with myself.

I wish I could remember who introduced us and when we were introduced but, I can’t. All I can remember is that it was all around me from a very young age, the feeling of peace and freedom that came with it only got greater and I fell head over heals.

Dance…you were my very first love.

It was at the age of 10 that I did my first performance. My parents had been approached by Rio Rhythmics founding director, Tarcisio Teatini-Climaco, after he saw me doing my own samba wiggle (lol) among the dancing adults at one of the Brazilian parties my parents hosted in Brisbane. Tarcisio asked my parents if they would allow me to partner his then 10 year old son Claudio to do a Lambada routine with Tarcisio and his dance partner Tika. Thankfully they said yes and our first show was at the annual Paniyiri - Greek Festival in Brisbane. My mum made our little costumes, we performed on the bumpy concrete street under the searing hot sun and to top if off, I tumbled off my poor partners knee on our final pose but…it was perfect!

From there I was hooked and would dance any chance I got. Not only did I continue to perform more and more I also convinced my parents to take me to Latin night clubs so I could dance the night away! At 14/15 my parents would sit there for a few hours on a Friday and Saturday night while I did my thing, gosh that brought me joy! I had not a worry in the world other than keeping an eye on my dad as he guarded me like a hawk from the men that would try (emphasis on try! lol) to approach me thinking I was of age since I was in a night club…bless my parents for doing that for me!

As I got a little older I went on to do many gigs around Brisbane and the Gold and Sunshine Coast. The Gold Coast Indy 300 was an annual event between 1991 and 2008 that we, the carnival group, were invited every year. Friends, fast cars, samba, capoeira and loud drums…I loved every second of it!

We performed on TV, clubs, multimillion dollar private parties, corporate TV events, restaurants, sporting events such as stadium football (soccer) matches and MMA fight arenas to name a few. We met an array of people from friendly house wife’s & husbands, children, local business owners to celebrities, professional sportsman/sportswomen and many more kind and interesting characters. Of course there are some “not so nice people” that were met along the way but those type of people cross our paths in many areas of life to teach us lessons and help us grow and, I won’t allocate any time to write about them…at least not in this blog anyway! lol

One of the greatest gifts dance has given me has been friendships. Forming lifelong friendships with people I would potentially not have met if it was not for our shared love of culture, music and dancing. Some of these people have taught me so much more than new steps on the dance floor, they have taught me how to step in certain areas of life. People I may not get the chance to speak to and see very often due to distance but, who I admire, care for and consider family.

Below, a few great friends made along the way…

The simple art of moving to a beat can make some people feel pure bliss, you don’t even need to see a smile on their face to know it’s ecstasy. You simply feel it with your eyes…and yes, I said feel it with your eyes. And by that I mean you’re not just watching someone move, you are witnessing a sensation, one that visually lasts for the duration of a song but runs through the dancers veins for much longer.

Performing with a good friend and world renowned choreographer, teacher and performer, Kadu Pires, was an honour…

Watch the performance below…

Sharing the stage with friends Kadu, Sara, Severine, Roberta, Luke, Ryan was epic to say the least! Partnering So You Think You Can Dance choreographer and Salsa Champion, Csaba, was a little intimidating (lol) but…the chances of messing up are little when you have one of the worlds best dancers leading you!

Watch the K&L Kizomba Team performing at the Latin Festival below…

For me, dance is one of those things that you don’t need much to be able to do it and, the positive effects it can bring are just out of this world. Try to explain that to someone that “hates” dancing or see’s all types of dancing as a “sexual” thing and it’s like trying to translate the Portuguese word “saudade”…it’s impossible! And yes, there are people out there that see all types of dancing as impossible or expensive or sexual and you know what…it can be all of those things if YOU want it to be but, like anything in life it all depends on how a person chooses to view and perceive something.

I can only speak for the styles of dances I enjoy such as Samba, Forro, Zouk, Kizomba so…

Why do I think it’s not impossible? Because I have seen people in wheelchairs dance and I have seen deaf people dance…the moment you stop creating restrictions in your mind and comparing your ability to others…you can dance.

Below you will see some pictures to prove that nothing is impossible. Twice I have been offered the opportunity to partner two gents who’s partners had to pull out of a performance last minute due to injury…twice I had less than 5 hours to learn a full choreography with someone I had never performed with before and twice I took up the challenges…why? Because what seems impossible is always possible…the word itself, imPOSSIBLE, tells you it is possible!

Watch below one the the above mentioned Zouk performances with the K&L Zouk Team…

Why do I think it’s not expensive? Because if you want to learn you can find affordable classes within your community. But what if I don’t have spare change for these classes you ask? There is an abundance of online content and, groups who meet up in community halls or even parks to practice. Like the old saying goes…where there’s a will there’s a way.

Why do I think it’s not sexual? Because although some dances are sensual, they are not sexual, there is a difference. In reality anything can be made to be sexual if you want it to be right?! But, that’s never been my goal or intention, the social dancing and or performing I do is to gain something completely different…it is to gain freedom in the moment.

I find that when I have the opportunity to connect to people and places through the flow and movement brought on by the sounds and vibrations I get to connect with myself by being free in the moment…now that is pure positive joy.

With Kindness,

Roberta Lettieri