From Dance to Writing: Natasha Maughan Shares Her Creative Journey
So this week, your girl was featured in Urban Magazine, a dope e-zine spearheaded by Be'n Original! Below is a copy of that interview as told to Be'n. You can find the original and other great articles here
by BE'N ORIGINAL
For Natasha Maughan, the leap from choreography to writing was a natural extension of her creative voice. As the founder of TaShibaDance, she’s always used movement to tell stories, but the political climate of 2015 inspired her to channel that energy into the written word. The result was Going Home, a novel exploring identity, love, and belonging.
In this interview, Natasha shares how dance influences her storytelling, the inspiration behind her projects, and how she balances creativity across dance, writing, and her cultural fashion brand, FlyLoVve.
What inspired your journey from dancing and choreography to writing?
I have always been a creative thinker, a dreamer, and someone with an overactive imagination. My wandering into the world of literacy came not as a move away from dance, but as a direct response to the madness I was witnessing during the 2015 election cycle. After all this time and seeing firsthand racism in England and colonial scarring in Barbados, now people were saying the quiet thoughts aloud, and I was angry. Because I am a permanent resident, I couldn’t express my outrage in the voting booth, and I needed a more grounded form of protest than dance afforded me. It just made sense for me to rant on the page and Going Home was born!
How has your experience in dance influenced the way you approach storytelling?
My choreographies and the dances performed by my company, TaShibaDance, have always told a story. I believe that dance is simply emotion through motion, and it is the rawest form of expression. When committed, there is nothing to hide behind in dance. In Going Home, this approach carries through. The reader is privy to raw emotion, a lack of literary padding, and a story that moves endlessly with twists and turns, both fluid and jagged. This is definitely a reflection of how a story – whether in dance or on the page – formulates for me. I do not believe in adding unnecessary fluff to my choreographies and that is how I have taught myself to write.
What ideas or themes do you enjoy exploring in your creative work?
In all our endeavors, my husband and I always come back to the theme of Black love! We have an online t-shirt business, www.flylovve.com, and all our designs celebrate Black lives, culture, heroes, and love. This is something that encompasses the heart and soul of what we do! Even in the book, Going Home, the main family explores the different shades of love and how far you would go for the people you love. I genuinely believe that if we don’t give flowers to the cultural influences in our lives, and show them love, no one else will. We cannot expect other people to respect us, so with TaShibaDance, Going Home, and FlyLoVve, that’s what we do.
Can you share a moment from your dance career that had a lasting impact on your artistic path?
Many moons ago, I was in a dance show in Barbados, and the night before the performance, during the last run-through, I fell off the front of the stage, and on to my bent knee. The pain was excruciating! As a result, I was out of the production and unable to dance for a year afterward. During that time, the fragility of my dance career became clear to me. I had always loved choreography, but this time offstage allowed me to deeply appreciate what goes on behind the scenes. It was important to me to have a contingency plan in place while staying in the world of dance, and the only path that made sense to me was owning a dance company, so the idea behind TaShibaDance was born.
How do you manage the demands of both writing and choreography, given their unique challenges?
As any business owner would tell you, delegation is key. I have surrounded myself with fabulous people that make owning and managing multiple businesses both possible and rewarding. My dance captain, Devin Shaw, oversees much of the heavy lifting for the practical side of TaShibaDance, while running FlyLoVve is a burden of love that both me and my husband, Jerry Maughan, shoulder. As for writing, I’ll be honest, I have been on page 20 of the sequel to Going Home for about a year! Most of my focus, at the moment, has been on developing Going Home for the screen and increasing exposure for FlyLoVve and TaShibaDance. Right now, I would love a production house to say to me, I see what you are doing, and I support you. Here’s $5 million. Go, take the next 6 months off, and finish the sequel, lol, but that may not happen, so for now, the writing is on hold.
Have you encountered difficulties blending movement and writing in your work? How have you navigated them?
No. Dance has been such a natural part of my existence for so long that the difficulty comes in me not blending movement into everything! Writing is a literary extension of my movement and has always been a part of me. Even with FlyLoVve, our clothing company, you can see movement and color play in our designs, and even hear the unwritten narrative of the clothes. We endeavor to stay true to ourselves, reflect our love of Christ in all we do, and allow our creativity to flow, blending several aspects of our culture together.
Are there lessons from dance that have influenced your approach to writing or life in general?
One of the main lessons I’ve learned is that dance, much like life, is fluid. Each movement flows into the next, and even if you stumble, you can add a flair and make it beautiful. My husband sometimes calls me an agent of chaos, and he’s not wrong! To others, my thoughts and actions might seem scattered, but to me, they all connect. I think quickly and explore many directions, but it all comes together in its own rhythm. Life, like dance, is about moving from one step to the next, even when you misstep. If you fall, point that toe, get back up, and keep it moving!
How do you approach creating a choreography piece compared to writing a story or book?
With Going Home being my first book, I approached writing much like choreography. When creating a dance, I immerse myself in the music, knowing every beat and nuance, and letting the movement flow naturally. Similarly, with the book, I started by writing the first two chapters in a month, then stepped back for eight weeks to deeply think about the characters—their personalities, likes, dislikes, and lives—without writing anything down. I let their stories fully take shape in my mind. When I returned to writing, I finished the manuscript in just two weeks, allowing the story to flow naturally, much like a well-rehearsed dance.
Who or what has been your biggest influence in both dance and writing?
As a literary newbie, it is difficult for me to say who my biggest influence is. I’m still finding my way, and although I appreciate and respect the exceptional Black authors out there, both past and present, I’m still unsure as to who I can credit as being my biggest influence. As for dance, the answer is Alvin Ailey. I can still remember growing up in Barbados, being given a VHS tape of the Alvin Ailey company performing Revelations. I must have been around seven, and I will never forget the butterflies in my stomach as I watched Judith Jamison perform Cry, or the goosebumps as I watched the trio perform Sinnerman and My Joy during the Processional. I wanted to create a piece of choreography as transformative as that… I still do!
What advice would you give to others looking to explore multiple creative fields?
My advice for exploring multiple creative fields is to focus on what ignites your passion while also playing to your strengths. Identify the areas that excite you most and invest time in honing those skills. Mastery comes from dedication, so prioritize getting better at what truly inspires you. At the same time, don’t abandon your other talents. Creativity isn’t linear—it’s a network of interconnected ideas and abilities. The skills you develop in one area often enhance your work in another. For example, my passion for dance informs my storytelling, and my love of writing brings depth to my choreography. The key is balance. Focus on what fuels you while allowing space to explore and integrate your other gifts. Each creative field adds to your unique voice and helps you stand out. Ultimately, following your passions and embracing all your talents can lead to unexpected and fulfilling opportunities.
How has the reaction to your work differed between your audiences in dance and writing?
Vastly different, lol! The legend (my mum) states that I started dancing at the age of three. I dance all the time. I am constantly moving, choreographing, speaking of dance, and watching dance. So, the formation of TaShibaDance and our performances was a surprise to no one! Writing the book, on the other hand, surprised even me! Many people accused me of holding out, thinking that writing was a secret talent that I practiced in private. However, I promise you, that was not the case. Even with our t-shirt designs, many people were shocked by Jerry’s graphic design abilities and how dope our pieces are. The design and quality always exceed expectations.
Your book Going Home has touched many readers. What inspired the story, and what do you hope people take from it?
Going Home was inspired by my firsthand experiences with identity and cultural transitions. Having lived in different countries, I’ve felt the deep connections and challenges that come with being part of an immigrant community. The story explores the emotional and societal impacts of a mandate forcing individuals to return to their country of origin —a scenario that has become increasingly prophetic in today’s world. I wanted to dive into how such a scenario would affect not just the individuals involved but also their families and the broader communities they belong to. Through this book, I hope to spark conversations about belonging, heritage, and the strength of the human spirit.
My goal is for readers to walk away with greater empathy for the immigrant experience and a deeper understanding of how diversity enriches us all. I hope Going Home resonates with anyone who has ever struggled to find a place where they truly belong and reminds them of the importance of embracing one another’s stories.
What projects are you working on next—more books, dance performances, or a mix of both?
I’m currently exploring an exciting mix of projects that blend my passions for storytelling, dance, and celebrating culture. On the literary front, I’m developing a sequel to Going Home that delves deeper into the characters’ journeys and the evolving themes of identity and belonging. Additionally, there’s momentum toward adapting Going Home into a film, which is a thrilling opportunity to bring the story to life on screen and reach a wider audience. In the world of dance, I’m collaborating on a dynamic new show that fuses movement with Caribbean storytelling, bringing an exciting floor show to country clubs and private event spaces across Georgia. As for FlyLoVve, right now we are a cultural flashpoint for love in all of its forms across a diverse range of cultures and will become a fashion house that is positioned to surpass the legacies of brands like FUBU, Phat Farm, and Karl Kani. It’s an exciting time, and I can’t wait to see it all unfold!