Tatyana Ali opens up about healing through dance during her ‘Dancing with the Stars’ journey
TheGrio...
The actress and maternal health advocate says her “Dancing with the Stars” journey has unlocked unexpected emotions—and inspired her to encourage other women to move with her.
Tatyana Ali is finding more than a new set of dance skills during her run on Dancing with the Stars. The actress says rehearsals have brought unexpected emotions to the surface and changed how she thinks about movement, healing, and her own body.
In a report published by ABC News, Ali opened up about her experience ahead of her “Mariah Carey Night” performance with professional partner Jan Ravnik. She described her journey so far as “empowering and healing” and connected the experience to her story as a maternal health advocate and the birth of her first child.
“I didn’t expect that that stuff would come out,” Ali said, explaining that dancing has required her to use parts of her body in unfamiliar ways.
“And if they say that trauma is locked in the body, believe me, I have had especially early on in rehearsals, instances dancing with Jan,” she added.
One rehearsal became particularly emotional. Ali recalled bending her back during a move when she felt something “unlocked,” triggering tears. Ravnik, she said, stayed supportive and reassured her that the reaction was normal.
Rather than treating the moment as something to hide, Ali has turned it into a message for other women.
“I’m sharing that because my body’s going through a lot right now,” she said. “What’s important is, mamas, women, we have to move. We have to dance.”
Ali encouraged viewers to participate from home, even if they aren’t trained dancers.
“While you’re watching the show and you’re listening to the music and hyped up or whatever, dance with us,” she said. “Because I didn’t realize that moving is empowering. Moving is healing.”
She stressed that movement does not need to follow a particular formula. “In any way that you can move, that you’re able to move, is important, and don’t deny yourself of that,” she said.
Her message has also received encouragement from members of the “Dancing with the Stars” community. Harry Shum Jr. praised Ali for sharing her experience, while Julianne Hough echoed her message that “movement is healing.”
Ali ended her message by focusing on the happiness she has found through the competition.
“If you are seeing joy coming out of me, just know that this is a really cool experience,” she said. “I got a lot to be joyful about.”
She then offered viewers a simple invitation: “Dance with me. I love you guys.”