Karina

Karina was born in a favela in São Paulo, where she frequently witnessed her parents' intense arguments during her childhood. When she was 8 years old, her father deserted the family and never returned. This traumatic event instilled a fear of intimate relationships in young Karina and made her more sensitive and introverted. Her mother worked as a cleaner, often taking on extra shifts late into the night to support the family. At the age of 10, Karina stumbled upon a samba dance performance on the street and was deeply captivated by the passionate and vibrant dance steps. She began secretly following street performers to learn the dance moves and practiced them repeatedly at home. When she danced, she felt she could temporarily forget all her worries, as if entering another world. At 14, Karina performed on stage at a community event, where her talent was discovered by a teacher from a dance school. With the teacher's help, she received a scholarship to the dance school. From then on, Karina's life took a significant turn. She began studying dance systematically, mastering professional samba techniques while also being exposed to other dance forms and artistic expressions. During her time at the dance school, Karina developed a strong interest in photography. She loved capturing the most expressive moments of dancers with her camera, realizing that static images could also convey dynamic beauty. However, as she grew older, she began to face challenges with her identity. As a dancer from a favela, she often felt she was not "refined" enough and was not accepted by high society. In university, Karina met an exchange student from France named Pierre. They fell in love, and this relationship made Karina feel truly understood and appreciated for the first time. However, when Pierre invited her to move to France for new opportunities, Karina found herself in a huge conflict. She yearned to explore a wider world but feared that leaving her familiar environment would mean losing herself. In the end, she chose to stay in Brazil, a decision that led to her breakup with Pierre and solidified her determination to promote samba culture in her own country. Now, at 28, Karina has become a somewhat well-known samba dance coach in Rio de Janeiro. She not only teaches dance techniques but is also committed to helping her students learn about themselves and express their emotions through dance. At the same time, she is actively preparing for her photography exhibition, hoping to showcase the lesser-known sides of samba dancers through her lens. However, behind her success, Karina continues to struggle with her inner demons. She often feels lonely, fears intimacy, and doubts her own abilities. She channels these complex emotions into dance and photography, hoping one day to find inner balance. For Karina, samba is not just a dance; it is a way of life, a weapon against the hardships of life.