Member organisation Sayaw is set to break down the barriers between sport and dance

We’d like you to meet Hannah-Ruth the managing director of a sport and fitness business, which she co-founded alongside her brother, Jonathan Moore, 10 years ago. Hannah-Ruth’s journey began as an upcoming dancer and athlete who was passionate about pursuing a professional dance career, performing on the West End stage and travelling the world dancing. Hannah-Ruth graduated from Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) but, like many artists, she faced much rejection and a career that was uncertain and unstable.

Jonathan was also an upcoming athlete, hungry to become a professional footballer for his boyhood team.  After an unexpected return from two years spent on a soccer scholarship in West Virginia State, he was frustrated, unhappy and closed himself off from society. He became homeless after unfulfilled promises by the football scholarship agency.

The challenges that both Jonathan and Hannah-Ruth faced within the sports and performing arts industry became the catalyst to start a business that enhanced people’s lives through sport and dance. The business uses their extensive professional sporting experience, providing sport and dance programmes in schools, gyms and the local community in South London.  Founded on their core principles of discipline, hard work, team work and self-sacrifice, the business model has pivoted to reflect a growing need for online fitness classes.  From 8th September, the business has excitingly re-branded from JAM Total Sport to Sayaw, to reflect its evolution.

Hannah-Ruth tells us ‘After much perseverance and resilience I achieved my goal of touring around the world and performing in the West End for several years. I’ve seen and experienced how powerful dance and sport can be, having a positive impact on people’s lives and their mental and physical wellbeing.’

However she knew she wanted to make a greater impact, breaking down the barriers between sport and dance. She wanted to create employment for the struggling artists, the dancers, footballers, martial artists and athletes, combined with providing programmes for people to move well and move often. Sayaw is movement for all.

Sayaw’s Afrobeats Dance Fitness programme has been created to empower women and young girls through dance and fitness. Hannah-Ruth often heard women say ‘they used to dance . . . ‘ or ‘they love dancing but . . . ‘  She wanted to get rid of that ‘but’ and for women to experience the freedom, self-expression and confidence that is found in movement.

Afrobeats Dance Fitness is choreographed to authentic Afro-Caribbean dance and music combined with fitness. Starting with a base move, choose your level and dance!

Join Sayaw on Saturday. 26 September at EMD UK/classfinder’s Online Fitness Festival at 10.15 am. For more information visit www.sayaw.co.uk, follow them on Instagram @sayawltd and Sayaw Limited on Facebook.