Resistance in a Time of Discord

Hi! My name is Malia and I own Soulspring Dance Studios. I want to share some things with you.

(TLDR: use code FINDJOY for a free class)

I’ve been a professional dancer for over 20 years. This includes performing, teaching, choreographing, directing troupes, producing shows, traveling, and more. I really love dance.

But my first love is the mountains. Always. Hiking, swimming, SUPing, snowshoeing. I love it all.

I also volunteer as cohost for a weekly board game group. I love my fellow gaming nerds.

Both creative freedom and nature conservancy are deeply important to me, and I fear both are at risk in our country right now. I fear a lot right now. I fear for my children. I fear for my neighbors. I fear for my community.

Opening this dance space was born out of both a long-held dream and deep emotional pain from my life being unexpectedly changed. I chose to turn my pain and fear into something beautiful, something I desired to see in this world.

And now this dance space, and the space I physically take up, exist as gentle forms of resistance. I am queer. I am “indigenous” (we say kanaka maoli, or Native Hawaiian). I am female.

I am an artist and I dont believe in artistic restriction. I believe in expression without boundaries. I believe in innovation. I believe in the power of somatic healing. I believe one’s body is inviolable and subject to one’s own will alone. I believe in peaceful resistance and dissent.

It is shocking, terrifying, and unsettling to watch what is happening in our country right now. I fear so many things.

But I am here, existing. I am creating space for you to exist too. I choose to take up space, to create, to express. To pursue with curiosity. And to find joy in a time when they want us scared, terrorized, and hopeless.

If this resonates with you, I invite you to seek joy with me. In times where my very existence is a threat to the powers in charge, I choose to persevere and find my community.

Come take a class in a space that welcomes you, my treat. Use code FINDJOY to drop-in to any class for free. I hope it softens the collective pain we are experiencing together.

Malia

Cover photo by Glisson Imaging