Meet Gisele Silva - Dancer, Instructor, Choreographer, Creator. I discovered Gisele through a Syncopated Ladies Tap Festival this spring and I have been a fan ever since. She is a professional dancer, instructor and choreographer from Brazil, but now based in LA.
She is so fun and inspiring to watch. Check out a little bit of her story.
What is your philosophy around life and health?
Health by definition is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not just the absence of diseases. And that's how I live my life! Maintaining the balance between these 2 universes.
How old were you when you put on your first pair of tap shoes? What sparked your interested in dance?
I was 6 years old, I started dancing ballet, I was always the family dancing child... my aunt was a secretary of a gym and asked the owner for a scholarship for me.
If you were to pick the most surprising moments in your life journey up to now, what would they be?
I have had several incredible moments, but as a basketball fan, and Kobe Bryant fan we had the chance to dance in the NBA halftime Lakers vs. Kings making a tribute to Kobe, it was exciting and unforgettable.
Dancing definitely gets your heart rate up, especially those syncopated ladies routines! :) Are there other things you do to keep your fitness up? Do you have a routine you follow?
We can define ourselves as athletes, but dance is not the only thing that keeps my heart rate up. I'm an early bird, hiking and jogging for 45min every morning and I do exercises every day, different kinds of things, lifting weight, outdoor aerobics.
I read that you grew up in Brazil and moved to LA a few years ago, what have you observed about these two different cultures when it comes to health and wellness? What could they learn from each other?
I can say that talking about health and wellness, they are very similar, one of the things that contributes is the climate. The heat makes more people try to exercise outside and I see a lot of people taking care of themselves. What is quite different is diet, I believe that Brazilians eat better, healthier.
Did your family teach you anything about health and self-care that still informs your own practices and values today?
They have always encouraged me to dance (and none of them can dance lol) but dance and our culture are part of my family. My father was part of the drums of a samba school in Brazil, and I grew up surrounded by a lot of music. But as I grew up dancing, that wasn't their concern.
What are your wellness essentials?
- burning sage every morning
- Sunscreen
- essential oils
- drinking water
- connecting with nature
- spending time with the people I love
- maintaining a positive attitude
What brings you joy?
Helping people is one of the things that makes me happy. Sharing experiences, traveling, are special things for me.
Follow:
IG @iamgiselesilva
