Naima

Meet Naima!  Naima is 9 years old and has been dancing since she was 3.  Nai is dance, dance is an everyday part of life. She is homeschooled and currently in 3rd grade, once her schooling is complete for the day she then heads to dance. Naima loves being with her dance friends, and teachers, learning new choreography, and perfecting her routines. Nai doesn't know how to mark a dance, she is full out every time, every dance. Nai is an intricate part of Sheila Rosanio's School of Dance & Gymnastics on their competition team for the past 4 seasons and currently in her 5th season. She competes in 11 routines. Nai's favorite styles of dance are Acro and Lyrical. Nai dreams of dancing for life, first in the UDA, professionally, and plans to dance world wide. She just completed her 2nd Professional Production with Tony Williams Urban Nutcracker. She danced with their Spring production Dance Distinctive, Ben's Trumpet in 2025. She auditioned and earned a full ballet scholarship with the BCYB. She just completed her first season as an XO Dance Ambassador. Last dance season, 2025 she won 3 National Titles with her solo's and her 4th National Title with her Duet. Naima has received multiple regional and National Titles, accolades, and Scholarships because her favorite place to be is on stage, or in any dance class. 

When we asked Naima what she loves most about dance, she told us that she just loves dancing, and mostly she loves dancing with her friends. Nai enjoys groups more than solo's, most especially her duet.  Just dancing makes her feel alive, Nai says she loves how she feels everything from the moment she checks in backstage, to the moment she waits in the wings, to the feeling of performing her routine, to the feeling of excitement when she has lived up to her own standards. She says she loves how fast her heartbeats, and how happy it makes her when she completes her routine. "I don't know," she states, "I just like the whole energy!"

Naima’s favorite parts of the Alive event were all of the classes, and meeting new dancers, and teachers.   She is looking forward to being able to dance on stage with a choreographer and helping assist. Nai loves teaching dance and movement as much as dancing herself.

Fun fact - Naima learned to swim at 3 years old and she can hold her breath under water for a VERY long time!