We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Belén Pereyra. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Belén below.

Hi Belén, thanks for joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

I have danced for over 30 years. As a child, dance was my powerful outlet—a way to understand reality, navigate emotions, express myself, and process life. It was how I explored language, sensation, confidence, doubt, empowerment, music, relationships, and even the transmutation of fear. Dance became my safe space, my anchor, my teacher.

Through years of grit, discomfort, and discipline, I graduated as valedictorian of my class, faced countless setbacks in an ultra-competitive field, and yet, through sheer will and relentless dedication, I earned a place on the world’s most acclaimed dance stage—the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

For 12 incredible years, I lived my childhood dream, performing in the most prestigious venues across the globe and collaborating with some of the most celebrated choreographers and dancers of our time. It was WONDERFUL! But living a dream also comes with the responsibility of sustaining it.

Dancing for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is one of the most rigorous and demanding professions. Unlike other athletes, our time off is brief, and our workload is superhuman. Some days, I danced from 8 AM to 10:30 PM, only to wake up and do it all over again for months at a time. The exhaustion was incomprehensible—you had to love it deeply to survive. And I did.

But at the height of it all, I found myself questioning: how far had I drifted from the little girl who first fell in love with dance?

After years of standing in front of mirrors, navigating a culture of comparison, striving for roles, validation, and applause, I realized I had lost touch with why I had loved to dance in the first place.

Then the pandemic hit. For the first time since the age of six, I paused. And in that stillness, I reconnected with the essence of movement.

Back to the Basics
Dance is a language—a way to express unknown worlds through the body. It is grounding and liberating. To captivate an audience of thousands without a single word, to tell a story through music, movement, and breath, takes years of mastery.

But the real reason we dance is not for the applause. Not to look good in a mirror. Not to impress teachers, bosses, or parents. Not to be “important” in someone else’s eyes.

We dance because that expression needs to be expressed. It wants to be felt. Every child, before they knew what an audience was, moved freely—unapologetically, joyfully, and instinctively. Then, at some point, the comparisons start, and the expression shifts. The need changes.

Why I Created Rhythm & Heart Dance Classes
Rhythm & Heart Dance Classes is a safe space for children to nurture their innate ability to move, explore, and express themselves.

Led by a concert dancer, we don’t just practice small movements—we dive deep into the joy of uninhibited self-expression.

No mirrors.
No performances.
No striving for perfection.
No need for external validation.
Instead, we explore movement freely through African, Hip-Hop, and Latin dance—styles that are deeply rooted in freedom, individuality, and rhythm.

Ballet, while beautiful, often tells a dancer who to be. These forms, however, allow children to discover who they already are.

My Intention
My deepest love for dance comes from its ability to hold space for self-discovery. Rhythm & Heart exists to provide that pure, unfiltered space for every child—where nothing is expected of them, and everything is available to them.

Through movement, children will develop:
✔️ Creativity & self-expression
✔️ Coordination & body awareness
✔️ Confidence & individuality
✔️ A connection to diverse cultures & rhythms

Like a seed, every child carries greatness inside them. When nurtured with love and support, they instinctively know how to bloom.

And this journey isn’t just for the kids. I’ll also be opening classes for mothers in the community—a chance to reconnect with their bodies and the joy of movement. Because when families thrive, our communities thrive.

I am beyond excited to share this passion, this joy, and this transformative experience with you and your children. Let’s dance, let’s explore, let’s celebrate movement for what it truly is—a way to connect, create, and express the fullness of who we are.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

how you got into your industry / business / discipline / craft etc.

I have been dancing for 30 years and teaching for 27 of them. My professional career spanned 15 years, including three years with Camille A. Brown & Dancers and 12 years with Alvin Ailey

what type of products/services/creative works you provide,

Rhythm & Heart Dance Classes is a safe, nurturing space where children can freely express themselves through movement. Here, dance is not about perfecting technique for a performance, seeking validation, or comparing oneself to others. Instead, it’s about exploration, joy, and self-discovery.

Led by a concert dancer, my classes go beyond basic movement. Without mirrors and free from external pressures, children are encouraged to dive deep into their own creative expression through the cultural traditions of African, Hip-Hop, and Latin Dance—styles rooted in freedom, individuality, and rhythm.

While I deeply appreciate ballet, it often teaches dancers who to be rather than allowing them to discover who they already are. This is why I have chosen dance forms that foster:
✔️ Freedom of movement
✔️ Confidence & self-expression
✔️ Curiosity & exploration
✔️ Rhythm, coordination & body awareness

My intention is to share my profound love for dance and the pure joy from which it began in my own heart. In my classes, every child is given the space to bloom—not by meeting expectations, but by exploring what is already inside them.

Like a seed, every child carries magnificence within. When nurtured with love and support, they instinctively know how to grow. In Rhythm & Heart, dance is simply the water and sunlight that helps them thrive.

what problems you solve for your clients and/or what you think sets you apart from others.

Rhythm & Heart Dance Classes is unlike any other program in our neighborhood. It is the only dance program led by a world-class artist with 30 years of experience, including 12 years as a principal dancer with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater—one of the most acclaimed dance companies in the world. This means that every child who steps into my class will receive the highest level of excellence and artistry while exploring African, Hip-Hop, and Latin Dance in a fun, supportive, and creative environment.

In today’s fast-moving world, where children can feel overwhelmed by the uncertainty of the times, Rhythm & Heart serves as a safe haven—a place where they can reconnect with their bodies, their creativity, and their true expressive nature. Unlike many traditional dance programs, there are no mirrors, no performances, and no competition—just pure exploration for exploration’s sake.

Here, we celebrate each child’s individuality and nurture their confidence by encouraging authentic self-expression. The goal is not to mold them into something else, but to help them uncover the joy and freedom already within them.

“Play is the highest form of research.” – Albert Einstein

At Rhythm & Heart, play is at the core of what we do—because through movement, children discover not only the world around them but also the power, creativity, and rhythm that already exist inside them.

What are you most proud of and what are the main things you want potential clients/followers/fans to know about you/your brand/your work/ etc.

We are mirrors to our children. I am proud of the reflection I offer them—one of love, possibility, and freedom. Children are pure light—so honest, so powerful, so free. But somewhere along the journey, that light often becomes blocked by fear, self-doubt, or limitation. Most adults can relate to this shift.

But what if that light was never dimmed?
What if children were in a space where they could expand that light rather than suppress it?

I’ve seen it happen.

I have a student in our classes who looks into the mirror of my gaze, and I meet him with the same energy I once shared with thousands of people on stage in a single night. And then, I watch something open inside him—a confidence so magnetic, so free, that it could bring you to tears. He dances across the space like the world is his oyster, uninhibited and fully alive. His mother tells me he only expresses himself this way in my class, with me.

That is what I am most proud of.

I am honored to be a loving, open mirror for children—a space where they feel safe, where they feel seen, and where they are given permission to play, explore, and thrive.

The process is nothing short of incredible to witness.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I am someone who has lived their childhood dream—and it was incredible. I spent 12 years dancing with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, performing on the most prestigious stages in the world, sharing my artistry with millions of people. It was everything I had worked for since I was a little girl.

But here’s the truth: I didn’t enjoy the climb.

For so long, my focus was centered on the arrival—on reaching the goal, earning the role, proving myself, and making it to the top. But when I finally arrived, I realized something no one tells you: The climb never ends. The moment you reach one peak, another path reveals itself ahead. There’s always another goal, another challenge, another level to strive for.

And while it’s beautiful to push ourselves toward our highest potential, I had to unlearn the idea that fulfillment only comes from achievement. Because if we only live for those fleeting moments of success, then we’re not really living—we’re just chasing.

The pandemic forced me to pause for the first time since I was six years old. With no performances, no rehearsals, no goals to chase, I was left with a question I had ignored for years:

Did I even enjoy the process?

That’s what I’m unlearning and reframing in this new chapter of my life. The process is worthy of attention, care, and presence. It’s not just about where we’re going—it’s about HOW we get there.

Now, I choose to embrace the journey fully. To be gentle with myself, to fail, learn, play, and explore along the way. To breathe deeply and enjoy each step, knowing that every challenge, every setback, and every success is part of the beauty of life.

This is the foundation of Rhythm & Heart Dance Classes. I want the children in my classes to feel the joy of movement, not just the pressure to perfect it. I want them to know that dance—like life—isn’t about proving anything to anyone. It’s about feeling, expressing, and embracing the journey with an open heart.

Because when we dance, when we move through life with curiosity instead of pressure, we realize it was never about the destination—it was always about the dance

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I was raised in an immigrant family, the daughter of a single mother with four kids. We grew up in a neighborhood with very limited resources, where opportunities weren’t handed to us—we had to create them. My mother, with the little she had, made sure that two things were always covered: food on the table and dance classes for me and my sister. She knew that dance was more than just movement—it was an escape, a purpose, a way to carve a path forward.

I poured everything into it. I trained, I studied, and in 2005, I graduated from Boston Arts Academy as the valedictorian of my class. With dreams far bigger than my circumstances, I packed my bags and moved to New York City to pursue my passion. I had no idea how I was going to make it—I just knew that I would.

I found myself at the Alvin Ailey Studios through their work-study program—where for every four-hour shift I worked signing in students and monitoring attendance, I earned three free dance classes. Those free classes became my lifeline. I trained alongside BFA Fordham students and took advantage of the Extension program for open public classes. During the day, I danced. At night, I worked part-time at Applebee’s and Best Buy just to afford the basics. On weekends, I rehearsed with Camille A. Brown & Dancers, knowing that every step was getting me closer to something greater.

One day, in the middle of all the hustle, a thought hit me—what if I auditioned for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater?

It felt like an impossible dream. After all, I hadn’t even been accepted into their official student programs. But something inside me shifted—I made the decision that I would make it. I set a goal: one year to train, to sharpen my skills, to prepare my body and mind for the moment I would step into that audition room.

For a full year, I trained harder, pushed my limits, challenged every boundary I had placed on myself. I saw myself dancing with the company. I felt it. I believed it. The night before the audition, I already knew: it was mine.

The next morning, I walked into the audition studio alongside 300 incredibly talented women from all over the world, each vying for the same chance of a lifetime. Cut after cut, the room emptied. But my heart was so certain. I had already claimed this moment.

And then it happened.

“Welcome to the Company!”

Even though I had prepared for this moment—visualized it, manifested it, willed it into existence—I still felt shock ripple through my body. I had done it.

That was in 2011, and for the next 12 years, I lived my childhood dream as a principal dancer with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, performing in some of the most prestigious venues across the world.

But what means even more to me than the performances, the global tours, or the applause, is what my journey represented. My friends tell me that I paved the way for so many in my community to believe that they too can do the impossible. And the most beautiful part? They have.

This is why I built Rhythm & Heart Dance Classes—to remind children that their dreams are valid, that their movement matters, and that they have the power to write their own story—just like I did.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @rhythmandheart1
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/14Xp8gaCYa/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTv7v0go4OY&t=2704s

Image Credits

dance pictures: Andrew Eccles

parent and student pictures: Jules Ferdowsi