This archive report was first published on 21 August 2020.
August 21, 2020, marked a significant day for Mike Wamaya, a Kenyan dancer who had grown up in the harsh realities of Nairobi's Kariobangi ghetto. Born and raised in an environment plagued by crime and poverty, Wamaya's dream of becoming a dancer seemed like an impossible feat.
However, Wamaya's determination and passion for dance led him to audition for the Kenya Performing Arts Group, where he was given a full scholarship to study dance. This opportunity changed his life, and he credits dance with helping him discover his inner strength and energy.
By 2017, Wamaya had become a dance teacher, working with local Kenyans to bring performing arts to children in the slums. Despite the challenges of working without high-quality equipment, Wamaya remained committed to his mission, hoping to encourage children to succeed.
With the help of his community and contributions from his dancers' parents, Wamaya built his own dance studio, enabling him to teach even more children. Although the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the studio's momentum, Wamaya continued to help people by teaching Zoom dance classes to raise money and converting the studio into an operation centre to provide food support.
Wamaya's dance programme has touched the lives of hundreds of children, teaching them more than just steps. His philosophy is simple: 'I teach possibilities. Dreaming is possible, and I let children dream in my class. Dreaming, they get to where they want to get.'
