d
ancing has
always been
a part of my
life. i started
doing ballet
at the age of six and later
moved on to ballroom,
Latin and belly dancing, participating
in some competitions at
varsity while i studied
accounting. dancing was
my way to recharge but
it wasn’t until i stumbled
across salsa that it became
the centre of my life.
My husband, Edward, and
I moved to London in 2007
and while out at a Spanish
restaurant for dinner, we
discovered they hosted salsa classes
in the back room. My husband and
I thought it would be something fun
to try so we went back the next week
and were taught the basics. We had
more fun than we expected to; the vibe
was incredible and there was such an
energy in the space – it’s a wonderful
way to meet new people, too.
It only took one lesson for us to be
hooked and, as we learnt more and
became better at it, we began going on
‘dance holidays’ all over the world. We
were so inspired by the passion our fellow
dancers had for the music, and found it
amazing that two people who can’t even
speak the same language can connect
so easily through a shared enthusiasm
on the dance floor.
We were only meant to be in London
for a year but Edward and I ended up18 months ago that I decided to commit
to running it full time, so I traded in my
corporate suits and court heels for skinny
jeans and dance shoes – and I’m much
happier for it!
I always say life lessons are learnt
on the dance floor – when you come into
the space open and engaged, you learn
respect, self-confidence, self-awareness
and the importance of team work.
Probably my biggest thrill is dancing
and connecting with a person for the first
time because you just don’t know what to
expect; it’s always a new experience. As
a woman, you are usually the follower
so you are completely vulnerable to your
partner; you have to be open to this
adventure and you have to just trust.
Although BailaAfrika has become my
job, salsa and kizomba never feels like
hard work to me. Every opportunity I get
to dance is such a magical experience for
me. If I’m stepping onto the dance floor
to teach, to perform or to just have fun,
an overwhelming feeling
of excitement is never far
behind. The love I have for
dance, as well as my students,
keeps the passion I have for
what I’m doing alive.
I’m still at the beginning
of my journey and I want
to take my time to figure
out exactly what direction
I want to take Baila in, but
I’m starting to see the results
I want and that makes all the hours of
dance practice and so worthwhile.feature ✱ See baila-afrika.co.za for more.
Julia Bain
photography
Supplied
staying for four years, and in that time
we went to loads of classes and festivals
in Europe. I’ve danced in every kind of
venue imaginable, from underground
basements to five-star hotel ballrooms- you really can dance anywhere!
When we came back home to Joburg
we desperately wanted to find a dance
school to help us recreate that
carefree vibe we were hooked
on. Although we found elements
of it, nothing was quite the
same as it had been in London.
So that’s when we decided we
would create that space for
ourselves and others by
opening a dance school with
two other business partners.
BailaAfrika was launched in
March 2012 and part of my plan was to
change the perceptions people had about
salsa and kizomba in South Africa – you
don’t need to be a certain build or level
of fitness, you don’t need a special outfit
or a partner to enjoy dancing.
You just need yourself and
an eagerness to learn. At
the school we have created
a relaxed, social space where
everyone from beginners to
seasoned dancers can feel
welcome and comfortable
enough to let loose and have
fun – while learning at the same
time. We do a lot of free events,
where people can get a taste of
what the salsa lifestyle is all about
before deciding to start lessons.
Although the school has been open
for seven years already, it was only
‘It’s easier to
connect on
the dance
floor than
elsewhere’
reaL L ife | don’t tell me I can’t
NATASHA WyATT, 39, SWITCHED
HER CAREER IN FINANCE FOR ONE
ON THE DANCE FLOOR
make a living
From salsa dancing
don’t tell me I can’t
‘A f ter one
lesson I was
hooked and
booked adance holiday’