Joseph Mwangi’s journey into dance was never about fame or applause; rather, it was born out of a deep desire to change lives. Today, as the founder of Echo Dance Academy in Mai Mahiu, Mwangi is using dance as a tool for mentorship, discipline and community transformation.

‎‎Mwangi’s story begins in 2013 when he discovered dance while working as a teacher in Nyandarua, a neighbourhood where many young people were struggling with drug abuse, early pregnancies and lack of direction.

‎‎“When I got there, I saw that the youths were deep into drug abuse,” he recalls. “I kept asking myself, what can I do to help them in a positive way?”

Joseph Mwangi is the founder Echo Dance Academy in Mai Mahiu.

Photo credit: COURTESY

‎‎Initially, he tried football, having played since his school days. However, he soon realised its reach was limited.

‎‎“I saw that football was not working the way I wanted. My target was to reach many youths, especially those already exposed to drugs,” he says.

‎‎Dance, he noticed, attracted both boys and girls and created a safe space for expression.

‎‎Using his talent, Mwangi began engaging young people informally, dancing with them in open spaces and playgrounds. With time, the initiative gained support from organisations involved in drug awareness, enabling the group to perform in schools while passing messages on drug abuse and responsible living.

‎‎In 2014, Mwangi made the bold decision to quit his teaching job, a move that was met with resistance from his family. Still, he remained focused on his vision of impacting lives beyond the classroom.

‎‎“Some family members thought I had quit my job for something that had no meaning,” he says.

‎‎After relocating from Nyandarua to Naivasha and later to Mai Mahiu, Mwangi worked with different dance crews before officially founding Echo Dancers under his management in 2019.

‎‎The academy has since grown into a hub for nurturing talent among children and young people, many of whom have gone on to win trophies, earn certificates and perform competitively.

‎‎Through partnerships with media houses, Mwangi exposes his students to bigger platforms to motivate them. “Some children have dreams but no exposure,” he says. “When they appear on TV, they feel encouraged to aim higher.”

‎‎Despite facing criticism and opposition, Mwangi says community support has kept him going. Looking ahead, his dream is to create a self-sustaining generation of dancers and leaders.

‎‎“I want to leave a legacy of people who can see a problem and change it positively,” he says.

‎‎Above all, Mwangi urges parents to support their children’s talents. “Talent pays off,” he insists. “If a child shows interest in dance, football or music, support them. You never know how far that talent can take them.”

‎‎To join Echo Dance Academy one requires a registration fee of Sh500, followed by a monthly contribution of Sh300 paid at the end of every month to support training and academy activities.

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From chalkboard to dance floor: Teacher quits job to inspire youth through dance

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Muthoni Wanjiku