Where Are They Now: Karen Lopez Nussa

Reclaiming power and confidence through dance

Dance has a particular ability to give space for empowerment and confidence, something that is especially stressed in belly dancing through its focus on sensuality, in the most beautiful and wide meaning of the word. For Karen, it was no different. As someone who grew up shy, she would eventually reclaim her confidence and power through belly dancing. 

Her shyness, however, would find conflict in the ‘stage’ which would become a literal and metaphorical barrier for her in dance. For her, the greatest power of belly dance is not found in the performance or in the stage but rather in the opportunity it provides for those who practice it to regain power and confidence over themselves. The self-expression made possible through dance is what creates its power and relevance. 

It is exactly this opportunity to dive into one’s own sensuality that made this world so beautifully interesting in her eyes. A sensuality understood in its ability to make one feel complete in fulfilling one’s senses and in pursuing enjoyment within oneself. Karen expresses how her exposure to belly dancing was pivotal in order to break with personal barriers she had, allowing her to take ownership over herself. “La danza es mia” [the dance is mine.]

On the impacts of dance in her life as a woman, Karen expressed the importance of belly dance for her womanhood and reflects on how every woman should get the chance to experience it. To experience the opportunity to get hold of ourselves, to accept who we are, to accept and embrace our femininities. She also reflects on how Havana Habibi gave her the chance to rediscover herself while finding a community of women in the process. One that became a family. 

She finished her thoughts by saying that dance is important for all women, something that all of us should live through as a deeply empowering process of self-discovery. “La danza le lleva a otra dimension de ti misma” [dance takes you to another dimension of yourself.

Karen is currently pursuing her dream of teaching yoga and biodanza in Havana, Cuba. Although her career shifted from dance, she has shared with us that she often uses elements of belly dance in her practices. 

By Juliana Bastos de Mello