Name: Uche Mgbodile
Age: 23
Classification: Senior
Major: Biology pre-med
Hometown: Enugu State, Nigeria
Q: What style of dance(s) do you practice?
Uche: I specialize in Traditional African dancing, Afrobeats, and Caribbean dance styles!
Q: When did you start dancing?
Uche: I’ve been dancing for as long as I can remember and eventually I was classically trained in ballet, jazz, and tap for two years in middle school. After which I taught myself everything that I know now.
Q: What inspired you to get involved in body art?
Uche: For starters, I have always been interested in the human body and how it works. Also, I love art so when I saw those two interests put together in the show “Skin Wars” I knew that it was for me.
Q: Do you plan to include dance and body art in your career goals or is it just something you do for fun?
Uche: I plan on pursuing dance as my career while maintaining body art on the side. As of right now, my artwork will soon be displayed in an online art gallery and I plan on merchandising them as well. I hope that I can eventually own my own dance studio where I can teach, and later travel and perform with artists.
Q: Do you have any words of encouragement for others who may be interested in dance or body art?
Uche: Don’t let anyone, even you, get in the way if your dreams. You are amazing just the way you are, so keep practicing and keep trying because you can only get better from now on.
Q: What other things do you like to do for fun?
Uche: I like to volunteer for various charities and binge watch Netflix.
Q: Are you involved in any organizations of campus?
Uche: Yes, I’m mostly active in TRIBE, African-based dance group, and the African Student Association.
Q: How can we connect with you?
Uche: You can follow me on Instagram @naija_qt and my body art page @bodybyuchee
Check out some of Uche’s body art below! (Photos courtesy of Uche Mgbodile)