My name is Layssa Valentina and I am a Brazilian intuitive dance mentor.
I have always been a bubbly and happy soul since I was a child. My nickname was “risadinha” which in Portuguese means “little laugh”.
My bright personality and love for movement became stronger when two of my best friends from school were taking ballet classes and after watching their first ballet performance I completely fell in love. My dance journey started right after this instance when I was 13 years old. It has never stopped since.
My dance journey hasn’t been easy. Besides a tough discipline forcing me to look perfect, I was challenged to maintain a certain weight and considering my height and my Brazilian curves that never worked out…
I suffered from eating disorder and that caused a lot of self-consciousness about my body shape and accepting what I look like and who I am.
Then I found a dance style called Brazilian Zouk, where everyone felt comfortable being themselves. They were perfect within all of their imperfections. I found a space where I finally fitted in.
A place where I could just dance after all. I could embrace my curves freely and express myself.
I have travelled worldwide teaching at the biggest dance events and helping thousands of people for the last 15 years. I always considered myself the luckiest to be able to make a living out of something I love so much. Recently, something started to feel a bit itchy and I realized I was never truly fulfilled.
Movement is my passion, so why was it so confusing?
I wasn’t sure what to blame. I felt like I was living someone else’s truth. I felt something was missing and I didn’t know exactly what it was.
In my personal relationships, I would always give “too much”. I didn’t understand why I wasn’t feeling “good enough“. I struggled accepting my happiness as if I didn’t deserve it.
Something was missing and that was killing me! That is when I realized I was having a spiritual awakening.