46. Samba as prayer

I am so proud to welcome my samba mama, my mestra to the podcast to reflect on the spirituality of samba. She is a deeply rooted and radiant guest whose life work flows at the intersection of movement, memory, and Ancestral healing. Jazz-Ylaine Baptiste is a second-generation dancer, Cultural Arts Educator, and Visionary Entrepreneur with over 22 years of experience in Brazilian Samba. She is the Founder and Director of Samba Journeys, a dance school and healing practice dedicated to honoring the roots of Samba through in-person and online classes, cultural immersions, and transformational retreats. Her journey has taken her from stages across the U.S. and around the world, to the sacred grounds of Bahia, Brazil, where she lived for two years deepening her connection to Samba through the wisdom of the land and the stories of her Ancestors. It was there that Samba became magnified as a living portal to Ancestral remembrance and liberation. Over the years, Jazz-Ylaine has trained, mentored, and nurtured countless dancers through schools she’s founded, including Alegria Samba Dance School, Samba Queens Academy, and now Samba Journeys. She’s also the Creator of the upcoming Rooted in Samba Summer Retreat, a sacred weekend immersion grounded in joy, community, and the spiritual medicine of Samba. Whether she’s dancing, teaching, or holding space in ceremony, Jazz-Ylaine carries the heartbeat of her lineage in every step. Please join me in welcoming a true keeper of rhythm, roots and remembrance—Queen Jazz-Ylaine Baptiste. Space is still available for this weekend's retreat. Sign up for it and other offerings at https://www.sambajourneys.com/offerings