Down 2 Dance: More Than Just A Movement
Today, while I write this column, I feel blessed that I can finally make one of my biggest dreams come true. I’m talking about Down 2 Dance, an idea that sparked to life in 2019 and was the catalyst for starting my company in 2020. My mission with Down 2 Dance is clear: to provide children with Down Syndrome and their mothers with enriching dance masterclasses, and to create special days filled with fun and love for children with demented parents, offering them a respite from their often challenging daily realities.
This initiative springs from what I’ve dubbed my ‘incluvision’. It’s built on the observation that among our society’s most isolated members are children with Down Syndrome and elderly individuals with dementia, largely due to their disabilities. Achieving financial freedom through my company, ‘Incluvision by Nadya’, was a strategic move not just for personal gain but to enable me to dedicate time and resources to this cause. I firmly believe that work should be a choice, not an obligation. Since establishing my own business, my aim was to reach a point where I didn’t have to work for money, but rather, have money work for me. Now, a few years down the line, I’ve achieved this goal, granting me the freedom to work whenever and wherever I choose.
In one of the upcoming issues, we will feature an insightful interview with Janneke van den Brink, well-known in Holland as the ‘Financial Free Woman‘ and the author of the bestseller ‘Financial Free’. This piece promises to explore the topic in depth. However, if you’re as eager as I am and can’t wait, I invite you to listen to the first episode of my podcast featuring Janneke or check out my solo episode titled ‘Financial plan’, which I recorded last year in Dubai.
This year allowed me the opportunity to start afresh in Abu Dhabi, taking a deliberate break from social media to concentrate fully on Down 2 Dance. With the commencement of Ramadan today, I’m reminded of past experiences of loneliness during this holy month, particularly during a period of recovery from a relapse which necessitated isolation. It’s with this in mind that I’ve decided to celebrate Eid-Al-Fitr this year by hosting my first free online Dance Masterclass ‘Celebrate your Talent’ for children with Down Syndrome and their mothers in the morning. In the afternoon, I will provide dance therapy at an elderly home for people with dementia and their children, hoping to bring a moment of joy and connection to their lives.
The masterclass will be a collaborative effort with my best friend, Celina Khasai, and my former dance teacher, Marlene Rach. Celina, with years of experience as a dancer and DMA model, brings a unique blend of stage confidence and freestyle dancing prowess to the table. My journey with dance began at the age of four, learning street and theatrical dancing from Marlene, alongside ballet, until I was 11. This early exposure led to various opportunities, including dancing on a Dutch TV show for kids and participating in theatre shows. One of my career highlights was performing on stage with Aaron Carter, Solid Harmony, and other international celebrities. Later, I was selected to dance in the musical ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’, touring the Netherlands during weekends. Balancing these commitments with high school proved challenging, leading me to temporarily step back from performing until I was 18. However, my passion for dance never waned, leading me to explore various styles, including Hip Hop, Bollywood Dance, and Modern, until I discovered Dance Hall at 30, which rekindled my love for dance in a new form.
In our Masterclass, I will lead a warm-up session with ballet, concluding with a short theatrical dance, inspired by Marlene. Celina will share tips on integrating freestyle street dance and Dance Hall into daily routines, offering participants a way to start their day with energy and joy. I’m already looking forward to celebrating Eid-Al-Fitr, but before that, there’s another celebration on the horizon—the launch of my new product at the end of this month, my E-book: “From Living Loss to Manic Momboss”. For those interested in learning more about Down 2 Dance or the E-book, make sure to follow me on social media. I’ll be sharing more about how I plan to celebrate this launch in my self-care column at the end of the month, so stay tuned!
