Alessandra arrived at my school in October 2009, seeking dance as a therapy for depression. When she started taking classes, Alessandra didn't have the dream of being a businesswoman. The involvement of body and soul with dance allowed her artistic gifts as an artisan to awaken and emerge. Today she continues taking belly dancing and percussion classes and says: “I can't do without classes, I'm hungry for music and dance!”. But, I preferred that she herself tell her story of overcoming. Your testimony it must be valid for people to realize that dance has an action that goes beyond the physical body, it can change life from one moment to the next, you just have to believe it.
“Everything changed color when belly dancing brought me to life, in fact I started to practice it because it was a suggestion of therapeutic activity when I started a treatment for depression. At the time I had swimming as a physical activity, however, I have always loved the art of dance and with the recommendation of a friend I decided to get to know it more deeply.
I've always loved all types of dance and I looked for a way to fulfill them, but it was belly dancing that rescued my femininity, and that was a big step, after all when we become mothers we go through a process in which all our attention is towards the children and we forget about our body.
It was then through this art that works body, soul and heart that I found much more than I was looking for, it brought me new friendships, affection, respect for differences, self-esteem and the main thing was to rescue what was dormant in me. Movements bring difficulties, the body does not always respond to the brain, but with good guidance and free will there are no insurmountable obstacles.
Everything changed color again when the well-being provided by dance incorporated my life, it was when on a certain day I needed to look for a dress to perform at a school party and the ones I thought didn't fit me, I decided to make one under measure and was highly praised for this choice.
Because they were hard to find, my husband suggested that I make these “plus size” dresses and put them up for sale. Because my mother is an artisan, I grew up with crafts, which is why I believe in my skill with embroidery and costume creation.
That's how a year and a half ago the ideas started to emerge and I was putting them into practice, always attentive to trends, new fabrics, comfortable models and quality products. I participate in dance events, today I have my atelier, and it is gratifying to know that people enjoy what I do.
Difficulties exist both to dance and to produce an outfit, but when you have true love and persistence, small conquests are big victories. I confess that reconciling the new activities of businesswoman, mother, wife, housewife and dancer is hard work, but let's face it that living requires work and today I am very happy.
I recommend belly dancing for all ages, it gave me an injection of life in my veins and brought me self-knowledge, in addition, it expanded my horizons and every person who lives well with himself can be better with those around him. And this is how I live, day after day, with this transformation from good to good.”
Alexandra Maciel is 39 years old, is a belly dancer and owner of Atelier Ale Maciel (atelieralemaciel@hotmail.com)
