We recently connected with Audrey Davis-dunning and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Audrey , appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
Resilience is in my DNA! My mother, my grandmother, my father and the unbelievably strong and intelligent men in my family laid a solid foundation for me. They regularly shared family stories of our fortitude and resilience. Those stories shaped the way I approach life and any challenge before me.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My favorite saying sums it up best, “AFRICAN DANCE WILL GIVE YOU LIFE!” I believe African Dance is a tool of empowerment! It has enhanced my life and made me more powerful in countless ways!
African Dance has made me:
* LOVE & APPRECIATE MY BODY – In this ancient art form, you will see woman of all sizes and ages absolutely rocking it! There is no age and no typical body type! It’s all inclusive! You begin to love your body for the magnificent moves it can do!
* TAP INTO MY WARRIOR ENERGY – As you study the various types of African Dances, (harvest, courtship, initiation, warrior, etc.) you soon realize that you can tap into the energy and intention of the dance with just a few steps! So when you need to feel more powerful and courageous, start doing a warrior dance!
* DEEPEN MY CULTURAL CONNECTION – The study of African Dance involves much more than mastery of the steps. African Dance is a study of African history, geography, drums, songs and costuming! Learning the cultural significance of each component strengthens your respect and appreciation of the wisdom and life lessons that lie within it.
* HEAL & HELP OTHERS – African Dance is a magical blend of POWER, BEAUTY, MOVEMENT & MUSIC. I love to share the joy of African Dance with students of all ages! One of my favorite ways to do that is with my FREE monthly ONLINE AFRICAN DANCE CLASS! I call it AFRICAN JOY and it’s absolutely FREE! I call it MY KISS TO THE COMMUNITY! It’s a way for anyone near or far to join me from the comfort of their home! We have so much fun! There’s also my book “KUCHEZA!: The Basics, Beauty & Power of African Dance” which is the ideal introduction to the enchanting facets of this ancient tradition. If you’re new to African dance and eager to start your African Dance Journey, this book is tailor-made for you!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three things that made the most impact in my African Dance Journey were my teacher, my desire to keep learning and becoming an African Dance Teacher myself.
YEWANDE KELLY-JOHNSON – I was blessed to have the most extraordinary, compassionate and talented African Dance teacher in the whole world! She was so loving and wise! Yewande was my primary African Dance teacher and taught me the various components of African Dance! The history, instruments, songs, costuming, staging a production, etc. Yewande made me fall in love with African Dance!
THE DESIRE TO KEEP LEARNING – Keep exploring! Keep stretching! Do scary things! My love of this art form made me want to try any and everything related to African Dance! Going to African Dance Conferences! Going to Africa! Asking questions to anyone who would indulge my curiosity! As the years went by, all of those moments made me better.
BECOMING AN AFRICAN DANCE TEACHER – Becoming an African Dance teacher was a significant milestone on my African Dance journey! You want to be the absolute best for your students so you study harder, practice your steps more and realize the role you are playing in continuing the culture. It’s an awesome responsibility and I do it with glee!
Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?
What an interesting question! My thoughts on this have changed over the years. In my earlier years, I believed in trying to be more well rounded and taking lots of time to get better in areas that you struggle with.
Now, my perspective has shifted. I currently believe that YOU SHOULD GO HARD ON YOUR STRENGTHS AND MAXIMIZE YOUR MAGIC! See where it takes you! It’s a gift! I believe there’s a BIG PURPOSE and a BIG MISSION ATTACHED to your gift! How cool is that?!
Image Credits
-Count Basie Center For The Arts
-Harlem HAFLA
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
