In 2016, Liethis Hechavarria’s life changed when her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Though her mother faced the challenge with unwavering strength, witnessing her struggle reshaped Hechavarria’s outlook on life. A dedicated dancer, she realized she wanted to do more than perform—she wanted to heal.
Using the Yoruba spiritual traditions of her native Cuba, she created Orisha Femininity Flow, a dance class designed for anyone who identifies as a woman. “I want women to know they can be powerful,” she says. “To learn to live with suffering, because it will always be there.”
Blending Dance with Spirituality
In Yoruba legend, the Orisha are divine forces of nature, guiding humanity through wisdom and strength. Through movement and laughter, Hechavarria teaches her students to channel their inner Orisha, using dance as a means of empowerment and healing.
Her journey began when she immigrated to New York at 13 with her mother, Danis “La Mora” Pérez, a world-renowned dancer. Soon after, Pérez founded the Oyu Oro Afro-Cuban Experimental Dance Ensemble, which has spent 15 years educating and mesmerizing audiences with vibrant performances of African dance traditions.
Resilience in a Year of Uncertainty
2020 was meant to be a year of celebration—Pérez had survived cancer, Oyu Oro was marking its 15th anniversary, and Hechavarria was growing her classes while returning to school for her Dance Performance degree. But then, COVID-19 struck. Live performances vanished, dance studios closed, and human connection was put on hold.
Yet, Hechavarria adapted. She found ways to keep the spirit of dance alive—leading an outdoor Femininity Flow class, hosting online rumba lessons, and celebrating Oyu Oro’s unofficial 15th anniversary in a new, reimagined way. Through it all, she proved that dance is not just movement—it is resilience, healing, and an unbreakable force of nature.