Kia ora, my name is Jessie.

I began my journey with Manawa in July 2024, stepping into the role of steward for a movement that wanted to be born here in Tāmaki Makaurau.

The name Manawa, meaning spirit of the heart, was gifted to me by a Māori friend, and from there, this movement came to life.

I’ve been called “too much” and “too expressive” for most of my life. I’m neurodivergent, a mother of two beautiful children, and someone who has always felt deeply.

I also carry developmental trauma from a young age, which has shaped how I move through the world and impacted my physical and mental health.

For a long time, I felt disconnected from my body.

That began to change when I discovered ecstatic dance in 2016.

Free-form movement has been life-changing for me. It has helped me reconnect with my body, regulate my nervous system, and process the emotions I carry from past and present.

Through dance, I’ve experienced healing on a soul, mind, and body level.

It has supported me in building deeper connections with myself, my family and the people around me.

Manawa was born from this lived experience, a space where others can come home to themselves, just as I have.

Thank you for being here.

and
See you on the dance floor.