The Art of Movement and the Beauty of Being
Name: Shanzell Q. Page
City: Detroit, MI
Occupation: Choreographer, Teaching & Performing Artist, Youth Development Specialist
Instagram: @zelldoesitwell
Twitter: @zelldoesitwell
Facebook: facebook.com/shanzellp
Linktree: linktr.ee/shanzellpage
1. What does dance teach you on a deeper level?
It teaches me presence and connection—to myself and to the world around me.
Dance shows me how to express emotions that words can’t touch, how to release what I’m holding onto, and how to embrace vulnerability.
It reminds me to be fully in the moment, to listen to my body, and to find strength in my movement.
On a deeper level, dance constantly gives me life-affirming practices, and patience.
It teaches me about being present in my body, not always perfection or technique.
It's a relationship.
Dance has shown me the power of discipline and freedom at the same time—how structure and creativity can coexist.
More than anything, it’s a form of healing.
It allows me to tap into a deeper part of myself, to work through emotions, and to connect to the Divine.
Dance teaches me that I’m never truly alone—through movement, I am connected to others, to the ancestors, and to a rhythm that transcends words.
2a. How has dance impacted your relationship with your hair?
By shaping how I see it as an extension of my self-expression.
Growing up, my hair was always central to my identity as a Black girl, and being in dance made me more aware of how I present myself, not just physically, but culturally.
Our hair becomes another form of storytelling—just like movement.
In the world [of dance], there can be pressure to conform to certain aesthetics.
But my relationship with dance and my hair has always been about celebrating who I am authentically.
Whether I wore a silk press, pixie, or twists, dance—-especially now, has given me the space to express myself without feeling the need to fit into a narrow image of “beauty”.
Over the years, my hair has become as much a part of my performance as the movement itself.
I’ve learned to embrace its versatility and its uniqueness, just like my body’s ability to move.
My hair is a reflection of my journey—bold, adaptable, and rooted in tradition.
Whether on stage or in class, my hair is an extension of the energy I bring to every offering.
Ultimately, dance has allowed me to view my hair not as something to manage or conform, but as a part of my freedom and identity.
2b. Is there a favorite memory regarding your hair during dance when you were younger?
Ha! I grew up tender-headed, and honestly, I still am!
Being a natural girl wasn’t always easy. I’ll never forget the first time I got braids, though.
It was for a summer competition, and we were one of the few Black dance studios back then.
We all decided to get matching "micro" braids—the universal protective style. It took hours to do, but it was such an intentional part of our preparation.
It felt like a bonding ritual, something that tied us together not just as dancers, but as young Black queens celebrating who we were.
This memory will stay with me forever as a reminder of how empowering it is to see representation of yourself reflected in your art, unapologetically.
3. What does beauty mean to you?
When I think about beauty, the first things that come to mind are honesty, and authenticity.
Beauty is the willingness to exist fully in your truth.
It’s found in the simplicity of life, allowing yourself to receive.
Beauty is receptivity.
It's the ability to trust in my intuition, to nurture the body and spirit within me.
It’s freedom—the feeling of being in alignment with myself, and attracting the things truly meant for me.
It’s the essence of who you are, felt from the inside and radiating outward.
Beauty is the ability to see beyond the physical, to connect with the energy of all things.
It is the divine in all of us, the freedom to be exactly who we are, and the peace that comes with that acceptance.
Shanzell for Soft Rows