I received an email a few months back informing me that our New Rochelle Public Library would be offering free African Dance Classes for children and adults for six weeks. I thought, “Great, this would be awesome for my lil Elizabeth” and I immediately signed her up. Initially, I signed her up only and had no intentions on joining her, but once I heard those drums playing and saw her up there by herself, I felt compelled to join her and make this a family affair.
It was a commitment for me, as if I really needed another thing to add to my plate but, dance is a part of what I love, it’s what I do to exercise through Zumba and, it takes me back to my roots, my childhood, when I used to participate in African Dance classes at my local church growing up, it’s where I found my rhythm, the beat, my love for drums and forms of expression.
Through dance, both in Zumba and African Dance class, I get a chance to heal my body, get lost in the sound and free my mind. When I dance, I’m not Mommy, a wife, daughter or any other titles I carry, I’m just me, Ke’Shawn and I’m doing what Ke’Shawn loves, DANCING!
It’s been many moons since I’ve danced like I did when I was young. It’s been many moons that I was thin enough to really dance like how I used to and not feel subconscious. Since starting my weight loss journey and losing 75 pounds, I’m starting to find that dancer in me again…that confidence…being overweight in all.
For me, Christ and ministry is my first love and gives my life meaning and ultimate fulfillment. Dance…DANCING for me makes me really really happy. When I dance, that’s my time and as my Mommy would say, “I’m a happy dancer…” and she’s 100% right! All is well when I’m dancing and the bonus, I get to exercise while doing what I love. Thank God for Zumba and now, Thank God for African Dance!!! I’m getting fit and having fun, it’s a win win!
Most importantly, I shared something very special with the one I love, my youngest baby Elizabeth. I didn’t just send my daughter to dance class, I joined in with her so we could take her first journey of dance together and boy oh boy, was that an awesome experience!!! Now, I’m not saying she’ll be the next Fred Astaire or Janet Jackson because kids lose interest rather quickly. Joining dance class was about an experience, a moment of bonding and an opportunity for us to explore her gifting, passion and talents together so she too can discover what she loves.
In my overcoming obesity, dance is what I love. I’m grateful to God for bringing me this far in my weight loss journey and overcoming many health challenges that I’m able to begin to dance again. I’m grateful to God that not only did my baby and I share in dance together, but, my family too and especially, my husband, who got up there and cut a lil leg as well.
Grateful to New Rochelle Public Library for affording the community the opportunity to come together, explore different cultures and be united as the City of New Rochelle #NEWROSTRONG! Grateful to Brother Anthony for sharing his gift and calling through Bokandeye African-American Dance Theater, which he founded, in exposing people to our culture, celebrating Black History and helping us to find our rhythm and our forms of expression.
In everything that we do, we have to find what we love and do it. Life isn’t always about hustle, bustle and extreme hard work, we have to be present, create memories and find joy in the small and hard things. We have to be creative in finding ways to accomplish our overall goals in ways that bring us peace and joy. Let’s find what makes us happy and commit to doing it, it’s in those things that we can find balance and fulfillment in this journey called life.
Continue to join me as I share with you what Christ is sharing with me about overcoming. As always, Be Encouraged, Stay Connected, Fight & Let’s Become Free Together.
This was so much fun, watch our Bokandeye African American Dance Experience At New Rochelle Public Library, Feb. 24, 2018
Yours in Christ,
Ke’Shawn Adamson
B.O.O.M!
