Where Are They Now: Ileana Bosch
The birth of womanhood
IIeana had an early introduction to belly dance and the Havana Habibi experience as she was only seventeen years old when she started to delve into this world of movement; a teenager discovering her womanhood through dance while surrounded by the amazing women of Havana Habibi. Ileana soon noticed the attracting power that belly dance has on people, who would often be drawn to her once her dance practices were revealed.
Such attraction is, for her, symbolic of what turns belly dance into a lovely community of compassion and friendliness amongst strangers. Something that would be heavily present in her life when she later moved to the Dominican Republic, where she would often dance around in the company of others. In this way, dance allowed her humanity to collide with that of strangers. Besides bringing people closer, belly dance also means, in great part, an opportunity to learn from, and with, other women.
Belly dance and the Havana Habibi experience allowed Ileana to learn from mature women who fostered a deep connection to their bodies and consciousness through movement. The personal development that this experience offered her was immeasurable, as she recounts: “me allegro mucho de haber tenido esa experiencia.” [I am very delighted to have had this experience].
Ileana was particularly impacted by the figure of Tiffany ‘Hanan’ Madera, whose role model deeply inspired her at such an early age. She mentions how Tiffany had this energetic passion that beautifully touches those around her. She was impressed at how someone could be so agile, strong, and deeply present. Through Tiffany’s example, she realized that there is always a little bit more to be given when it comes to dance; ["Siempre hay un poco mas para dar en el baile."]
She recounts that, besides the connection with a strong community of women, Havana Habibi also offered space for her to connect with her mother, with whom she would constantly dance. That time spent between mother and daughter provided her with an opportunity for the strengthening of familial bonds. Ileana recounts her constant practices with her mother as she learned new choreographies. Havana Habibi not only gave her a new family on the foundation of womanhood but also tied her bonds with the woman that gave her life.
Finally, belly dance was also a point of connection with herself. One which offered tools for introspection and self-awareness, allowing her to discover her own world and to find home in it. “It gave me tools to be with myself” [Me dio herramientas para estar conmigo misma.]
Ileana did not stay in dance as a career, but ensures that dancing is a part of her life; “es algo basico.” [it is something basic.] Just like Gretl, for whom dance is like breathing, Ileana sees dance as a part of her life. She now lives in Malaga, Spain, and pursues her dream of working with personal development. On the things she learned through dance she says, "Siempre los llevo a todos lugares." [I always take them everywhere.]
By Juliana Bastos de Mello