The first time I met Maisha she was safely and warmly curled up inside of Heidi’s belly like a little kangaroo in Taos, New Mexico. Heidi had come to my dance class in Taos to bring a guest teacher and she was juicy and ripe in her pregnancy with Maisha.

You have not seen everything this life has to offer until you see one of America’s leading white female Dunun (a type of bass drum from Guinea, West Africa) players fully pregnant with child rocking out the Dununs in a West African dance class. It is a site of utter magic, brilliance, strength and plain ol’ gorgeousness. I wish so badly I could have photographed that class with Heidi’s belly so close to one of the most beautiful drums on this planet. Never the less, five years and some months later, Ihave photographed the product of that moment (and a few other key moments): Maisha.

Maisha is growing into her authentic 5 year old self in utter support and love in one of my personally favorite communities: the West, Central and East African dance and drum community. She spends vasts amounts of time around inspired musicians and spirited dancers who treat her with respect while holding sacred space for Maisha’s authentic self to flourish. And so Maisha has made us proud already. She is passionate about dancing and choreographing and instead of watching cartoons she watches Michael Jackson’s dance moves. She trusts everyone she meets because all she has known is love and she is not afraid to solo at a dance class filled with adults. She is confident in her authentic beauty while at the very same time filled with respect and honor for her elders.

I love this child. A lot.

May we all re-member our authentic incredible-ness like we fully trusted in when we were 5. May we dance and yoga and jump and run with the sense of utter ecstasy simply because it feels good to move and to be amazing. May we marinate in our amazingness and become drunk with the essence of our Authentic Gorgeousness.

Aho!