Rising Stars: Meet Mekeba Malik of Chicago

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mekeba Malik.

Hi Mekeba, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My dance training started at 12 years old at a small studio on the south side of Chicago, Kiara Dance Arts. I was walking around the neighborhood and just found the flyer on the ground. It was kismet!! I took all the classes offered and fell in love with dancing and movement. I then went on to study dance seriously taking classes at The Joffrey Ballet and Chicago Multi-Cultural Dance Center while going to a performing arts high school (Chicago High School for the Arts). I spent my summers training with Debbie Allen, Dance Theater of Harlem and Deeply Rooted Dance Theater. All throughout that time, my understanding of movement was being developed and refined through different dance techniques and conditioning systems. At 17 I left high school early to attend Alonzo King LINES Ballet Training Program, the youngest in my class. There I was introduced to other forms of movement like gyrokinesis and gyrotonics. Then, life got serious and I had to put a pause in my dance training. During that time I deepened my yoga practice and understanding of functional movement and strength training and gained my respective certifications. After 2 years away from dance, I decided to continue my training attending a summer intensive in Italy and then training in Talawa technique with Thomas Talawa Presto in Norway. I came home and joined Deeply Rooted Dance Theater as an apprentice and was promoted to Company Member within 3 months. I began teaching yoga at Studio Yogi in 2023 and I began teaching at The Joffrey in 2024. I am currently wrapping my 4th season with Deeply Rooted, I’ve signed on for another year at The Joffrey, and I am currently developing new offerings for my Studio Yogi community

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Staring out was a challenge in itself. I was raised by single mother who’s differently abled, on a fixed income. Training in anything isn’t cheap. I relied heavily on scholarships (mostly merit based but a few work-study) for my training and crowd sourcing when needed. In 2018, I lost my grandmother and had to pause my training to care for my mother as her health began to decline. In 2021, I lost my mother the day after Mother’s Day and a week later I lost my aunt. Then a year and 12 days later I lost my older brother. After losing the people that raised me I had to find the inner strength and the personal why in order to keep going. Now the struggle is staying disciplined and keeping my focus on the fact that I’m getting to do all the things I love and I’ve made my dreams a reality. The other challenge in that is keep dreaming and not get comfortable or too big for myself. So long as there is breath, there is work and opportunity.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a dancer, choreographer, dance teacher, and yoga teacher. I specialize in performance and would say I am most known for my ability to move an audience. I am most proud of working my way up within Deeply Rooted’s organization from being a student, to company member, and now working as a dancer, administrative assistant, and teacher. I think what sets me apart from others is my willingness and dedication to the craft. Dance, yoga, and performance has quite literally saved my life in so many ways. I approach my work with a standard of excellence that allows me to go forth with an inner knowing and surrender that all things work together for those who put their best foot forward and trust the process of doing good without getting tired.

How do you define success?
I define success as the ability to be myself fully, to love myself ferociously, sleep and rest peacefully, having good people around me that we share mutual love, mutual respect, and mutual support. Access to good quality food, good quality clothing, good quality shelter. My work is received and appreciated by those that experience it. My gifts make room for me and I am compensated adequately and without delay. Blessed when I come and blessed when I go. Success to me is having overflow and being a blessing to others. Success is to reveal the divine without words but through action and presence.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://momoves.square.site
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keeb.ies/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mekeba-malik-7b458714a

Image Credits
Todd Rosenberg
Rachel Neville
Azari London
Michael Smith