My name is Maliya Smith, and I’m originally from the Chicagoland area. I’ve always been someone who finds joy in creativity and movement. I absolutely love coloring, drawing, spending time in nature, reading a good suspenseful book, traveling, weight lifting, running (sometimes 😂), and dancing. I started dancing when I was three years old at the Sammy Dyer School of the Theatre in Chicago—one of the oldest African American dance schools in the city. I trained in jazz, ballet, tap, tumbling, and hip hop, and through the school, I was blessed with incredible performance opportunities. We traveled and performed across the country, including at the United Nations in New York, Las Vegas, and Orlando’s Disney World, and I also participated in a cultural exchange program in the Bahamas. I attended Eastern Illinois University, and although I once dreamed of transferring to Columbia College Chicago to pursue a degree in Dance, my parents encouraged me to finish my studies at EIU—a decision that turned out to be a blessing. Over time, I found a way to weave dance into my professional and healing practices. After earning my master’s degree, I began working at a middle school, where I created a dance and step team that incorporated yoga and meditation into our practices. I also integrated movement-based healing into my somatic therapy groups at both the middle school and later in my role as a faculty counselor at a community college. These experiences taught me that our passions don’t have to exist separately from our purpose—they can become a part of our career and our calling. This is just a little bit about me, but I’m truly excited to learn more about you and to hear about your unique journey and life experiences.