Dance teacher finds solace in every step

“When things didn’t work out, dancing always did,” says 24-year-old dance teacher Micayla Hewett, who has lived a lifetime of dance.

Micayla started dancing at the age of four years, and says it was a calling that low-key became her escape world.

In 2018, she toured in Croatia, representing South Africa, and that same year, she was one of the selected principals in the ballet section of the opera Faust, which was performed at the Pretoria State Theatre.

She has skills in ballet, modern and tap. She holds qualifications from the Royal Academy of Dance Ballet, Performance Acro Dance Affiliation and the Association of International Dance Teachers. Additionally, she has worked with well-known South African choreographers such as Brigette Reeve-Taylor.

“I have done modern and ballet my whole life, and then began tap dancing when I was 17 years old. Ballet remains my favourite. I love classical movement and music, I love feeling elegant, and the pointe shoes are the cherry on top.

“However, tap has recently become more than just a style of dance for me and has helped me get through a very difficult time in my life,” she reflected.

“This year, I have experienced traumatic losses, and dancing became one of the three things that kept me going. The ability to continue moving when life knocks you down is a lesson I teach my kids all the time.

“I tell them, one small mistake is not going to ruin the dance, and if you fall, make it part of the dance.”

At the age of 20, Micayla opened her dance studio called Athletes of God, where she passed her two decades of wealth of knowledge to 60 students.

Her motto for herself and her students is ‘just keep learning’. For more information, send an email to aogdance@gmail.com.