We recently connected with Samya Johnson and have shared our conversation below.
Samya, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
A big risk I took was leaving a dance team I was with from the beginning of it’s creation and starting from scratch again. While I won’t mention the team’s name, it was something I had been part of from the very beginning. I contributed to creating the name, laying the foundation, and helping the team grow. When we started, we discussed our shared goals and vision, but as time went on, there weren’t any clear, set goals or direction. What we had talked about no longer aligned with what was happening, and that disconnect started to weigh on me – both emotionally and physically.
Living with myasthenia gravis, I’ve learned how much stress can impact my condition. The challenges and environment I was navigating with the team began to take a toll on my health. I realized I couldn’t keep sacrificing my wellbeing for something that no longer fit with what I wanted or needed. After a long period of reflection, I made the tough decision to leave. It wasn’t easy to walk away from something I’d invested so much in, especially because I still saw so much potential in the team.
After leaving, I thought I’d go solo and focus on my own channel. I rented studios, paid for everything myself, and poured what little money I had into creating dance covers. My initial plan was to invite friends and others to collaborate casually – which I did start out with and that went well. Along the way, though, I connected with so many amazing people, friends, strangers, and acquaintances who gave me overwhelming support. They encouraged me, shared how much they admired what I was doing, and even told me they’d love to join if I started my own team. Their words made me rethink what I truly wanted.
That’s when I decided to take another leap and create HAVEN. The name means so much to me. It represents a safe space, a sanctuary for creativity, collaboration, and mutual support. HAVEN is everything I wanted but couldn’t find elsewhere: a team with a clear vision, shared goals, and an uplifting environment. Starting this team was a risk, but it’s one I’m proud of. It’s more than just a dance team, it’s a reflection of my journey, my values, and the lessons I’ve learned. For the first time, I feel like I’m building something that aligns with who I am and what I want to offer the world.
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?
For readers who might not know me, My name is Samya, I am 21 years old and I am a dancer, leader and the founder of HAVEN Dance Crew. My love for dancing began at a very young age when I would perform in front of my family and friends. My mom played a huge role in fostering this passion. She created step teams and dance groups for me to join as a kid, which gave me the space to explore and grow. Later, she introduced me to Leaders and Legends Performing Arts Academy, which I consider the official start of my professional dance journey.
At Leaders and Legends, I experienced what it meant to be part of a dedicated team that valued discipline, hard work, and collaboration. I had the chance to participate in performances, plays, and even competitions. During my time there, I trained in Jazz, Tap, Hip-Hop, Modern, Ballet, and Acrobatics. These experiences shaped my foundation in dance, and I was even honored to be the academy’s very first Student of the Year. Although I left the academy not too long after, the lessons I learned there stayed with me and helped shape who I am today.
After stepping away from the academy, I continued dancing on my own and discovered my love for K-pop. I’ve been a huge fan since middle school, specifically 6th or 7th grade, and BTS became a big part of that journey. (I’m 21 now, so they’ve been a part of my life for years!) I was captivated, even more intrigued, by the intricate choreography and performances in K-pop, and I started learning more and more dances from it. That passion eventually led me to wanting to join a dance team that did covers of those songs and ultimately building up what I truly enjoyed and starting HAVEN.
HAVEN is my safe space. our name itself reflects the sanctuary I wanted to create for others who share a love for dance and creativity. We specialize in K-pop dance covers and aim to provide a collaborative and supportive environment. My journey has been full of ups and downs, but every step has led me here, and I’m so proud of the community we’re building through HAVEN. It’s more than just a dance crew; it’s a space where creativity and passion can truly thrive.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
A lesson I had to unlearn was the idea that my value as a leader and team member came solely from how much I could give or sacrifice for others. Growing up, I believed that if I worked hard enough and pushed through any challenges, it would be enough to make things work, especially in a team setting. That mindset came from years of contributing to various teams and feeling like my worth was tied directly to how much I poured into the group.
Over time, I realized that leadership isn’t about self-sacrifice at the expense of your well-being. Living with myasthenia gravis, a condition that can be heavily impacted by stress, taught me that I couldn’t keep giving everything without prioritizing my own health and happiness. Leadership, I learned, is just as much about setting boundaries and ensuring alignment with your values as it is about hard work.
Now, as the leader of HAVEN, I embrace the fact that leadership is a continuous journey. I still have so much more to learn, and I’m ready to face the challenges and changes that come with it. This mindset keeps me motivated to grow as a leader while also fostering a team culture where collaboration, balance, and respect are at the forefront.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
A story that shows my resilience is how I navigated the challenges of myasthenia gravis (MG) and its impact on my passions. When I first started noticing symptoms like weakness in my limbs, loss of strength, and even issues with hand coordination, I didn’t realize how much it would affect my daily life. It wasn’t until my legs gave out multiple times and I struggled with simple tasks, like getting up or standing for long periods, that I started to understand the seriousness of it. One of the hardest things was how it stopped me from doing the things I loved, especially dancing and even singing. I didn’t have the strength or breath control to perform the way I used to, and it was frustrating not to be able to express myself in the ways I always had.
For months, I didn’t have a diagnosis or medication to help manage the symptoms. During that time, I left my café job, partly because of management issues related to my disability. Despite these struggles, I stayed determined to figure out what was going on. After endless doctor visits and research, I finally came across a TikTok of someone with MG describing her symptoms, which matched mine almost exactly. I brought it up to my doctor, and after testing, it was confirmed.
Even without medication at the time, I pushed myself to keep going. I couldn’t fully dance or sing the way I wanted to, but I didn’t give up. I still went to concerts, traveled with friends, and found ways to stay involved with the things I loved, even if it looked different than before. Now that I’m on medication, I’ve been able to regain some of that strength and control, and I’m getting back to doing what I love. Looking back, I’m proud of how I adapted, stayed hopeful, and found ways to keep moving forward, even in the face of something that could have completely stopped me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://beacons.ai/havendancecrew
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/havencrewofficial/profilecard/?igsh=MTJ6anMxYnVyNGVtaQ== AND my personal: https://www.instagram.com/suhmyyuh/profilecard/?igsh=bDkydHA4cG9obHZn
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@havendancecrew?si=68UF0ynvnXQkl597
Image Credits
Haven Concept Photo
Pictured: Mary, Kim, Daysia, Samya, Juntae, Noelle, Katy, Bambi
Photo By: Kobe @garagethaband
Danger Concept Photo
Pictured: Mary, Kim, Daysia, Samya, Juntae, Noelle, Katy, Bambi
Photo By: Kobe @garagethaband
OUR Dance Cover (Skate Park) Photo
Pictured: Samya, Daysia, Mary, Kim, Pari (KARAT), Kalli (Question Dance Crew)
Photo By: Kobe @garagethaband
Icky Dance Cover (Art Museum Stairs) Photo
Pictured: Samya, Juntae, Mary, Daysia
Photo By: Kobe @garagethaband
Armageddon Dance Cover (Art Museum) Photo
Pictured: Samya, Daysia, Kim, Mary, Katy, Noelle
Photo By: Kobe @garagethaband