20/05/2026
On May 20th, for me, is a day to honor my freedom.
This is the day my family and I arrived in the USA as refugees, escaping the genocide in Kosovo in 1999. I am deeply grateful for the opportunities I had in America for 13 years, and for my parents, who sacrificed everything so my siblings and I could have a brighter future. We became the first generation in our family to graduate from college.
Coming close to losing your life gives you a deep gratitude for living - and even more for doing what you love. During my years in the USA, I focused on making a difference by collecting donated books and raising money to ship them to Kosovo, Albania, Macedonia, and later Pakistan, Jamaica, and Tanzania. That experience made me brave and taught me that even if we can’t change the world, we can still make a difference.
I once dreamed of working for the United Nations and building schools and libraries in developing countries, only to end up in one of the richest countries in the world, sharing dance.
Norway taught me the beauty of grounding, nature, inner work, and real connection. Realizing that dance and movement were my purpose was another moment of freedom for me. Even after building a successful dance career, I never forget where I come from, and I remain grateful every day to live freely and share the joy of dance with the world - and to witness the way it helps people grow in confidence and that dance too, changes the world 🌎
The deepest wisdom I’ve gathered is that pain and joy can coexist, and that holding both is what makes us whole. The more pain and suffering we experience, the more space we carve out for compassion, presence, gratitude, and joy. So when you meet my bubbly side, know that I carry many worlds within me and not just ‘the American version of me’…❤️ anddddd the question of where I am from is never simple for me. I am not where I come from - I am what it made of meee 🫶🏻 yesss 🎉 freeeee 🎊
