We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Maya Louisa a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Maya thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.

I was majoring in Dance at Howard University in the early 2000’s. Towards the end of my sophomore year all of the dance faculty called a meeting with me. They had decided unanimously that I would never make it as a dancer my body was not trainable. I was advised to stop dancing and pursue a career in writing. My soul was crushed and I cried for days. I remember laying in bed not wanting to go outside. The one thing that brought me joy, the one thing that made me feel timeless and connected to source, the one thing I could see myself doing forever was somehow taken from me. Days later I met up with another dancer from the program who confided in me she was leaving “girl I can’t take it”. Just like that I knew I had to leave as well. I realized I did not have to continue learning and investing time with people who did not believe in me. I didn’t need to major in dance to dance. A little spark was lit inside me. I was deeply inspired by Katherine Dunham so I changed my major to Cultural Anthropology, joined an Afro-Cuban troupe and months later began performing. The same summer I graduated from college I made my first trip to Cuba and I’ve never been the same. I have since traveled to the Island 21 times to study with great teachers and perform. The dance program gifted me a great foundation and exposure to the dance world I am a part of today. I am grateful to have been a part of the program and very grateful for my decision to leave.

Maya, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I help ambitious career driven women embody their feminine energy. I’m a dancer artist specializing in Latin & Belly dance, a certified Yoga teacher and Embody birth educator (which is Bellydance for pregnancy and birth). I am also a jewelry designer, wife, mother of two boys under the age of three. I have an online dance studio, Kole Dance which provides virtual dance classes and yoga classes as well as private consulting for love attraction and fertility. We also host live dance events. In addition, I’m also the founder and designer of Kole Jewel which is online jewelry store selling handmade semi precious stone waist bead jewelry. My journey began teaching for the NYSC all around NYC before having my own studio in Bedstuty Brooklyn. I taught various classes to women of many different ethnicities and economic backgrounds many of whom had common struggles with their bodies hips being too tight and heart center closed. From their struggle birthed my unique method to opening their tight hips and warming their hearts, ground them in the body, calm their central nervous system all while playing an dope ass carefully curated playlist. When I had my own studio I did women’s circles for community, connection and mindset work in addition to the dance classes. I provided experience for them to safely express their feminine energy. The jewelry is another layer, a physical representation of what was happening in the body and spirit. I have been making and designing waist beads since the age of ten.
I am proud that I get to touch women’s lives they way I do.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

In College there was a Black activist group similar to that of Fraternity. They centered ideals from ancestor veneration, Pan-Africanism and activism that really resonated with me. My best friend joined so I thought it would be cool if I did too. I promise you I wasn’t pressed, just curious. I applied and was denied entry based on the terms I was “Too sensual”, as if that had anything to do with my intelligence or devotion to the betterment of my people. Initially there was shame there. I was ashamed I wasn’t taken seriously. I questioned if my sensuality was something that weakened me, or did not add value to my people or the movement. As time grew on, I deepened my spiritual practice, and it was revealed to me that I am Osun’s daughter. My Orisha is the owner of sweet water, femininity, the mystery of birth, rivers, gold, riches, creativity and sensuality. My ability to feel and be awakened in my body became my superpower. It is one of the greatest gifts I cherish. Now I have a business that helps many women including several from that same Black activist group to embrace their sensuality and embody their feminine energy. This is a true lesson that somethings we once considered to be our flaws are actually our greatest gifts we give to ourselves and the world.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

Something that is very important when doing any type of women’s work is honoring our intuition. Our intuitive muscles need to flex. We strengthen our intuition by honoring those tiny nudges, gut feelings and intuitive down loads. There is a part of our being that picks up and translates information, that information is not data driven by guided by spirit.. Its important when working with feminine we honor this aspect of ourselves. When we honor our intuition we honor our feminine energy and that is deeply nourishing.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kolejewel.com
• Instagram: @maya_louisa
• Youtube: (7) Maya Louisa – YouTube
• Other: sign up for my newsletter. https://kole-jewel-llc.ck.page/0cc6f85ada

Image Credits
Islandboiphotography (pregnant pic)