Hello December! What’s up Gazzetea fam!
It’s that time of year just before Christmas and the new year so we are beginning to wind down for the holidays but before we do we wanted to sit down with the petite powerhouse herself, Miss Feven Reuben otherwise known as Fevushka!
We popped Martini bottles on the set of Oh Snap Studios in downtown Masaki recently with the petite dynamo – Feven, a renowned dancer and music video artist who’s breaking boundaries and defying Tanzanian stereotypes with every move. Feven welcomed us into her world, sharing her story that intertwines passion, perseverance, and the pursuit of her dreams.
Feven’s journey into the professional dance world started as a hobby and a handful of social media videos. Before Tiktok was a thing, Feven would share videos of herself dancing that would be shared on whatsapp. She had no idea that these videos would lead her into a full-on dance career, landing her the title of best female dance act in Tanzania in 2022.
Hailing from a family that initially questioned the viability of a career in dance, Feven had to convince her family that her passion could be a lucrative profession and that opportunity came during Feven’s very first semester of uni where her dance career funded her tuition fees.
Feven proved herself a force to be reckoned with when her dance savings not only funded her first year of university fees during the covid pandemic, but also ended up funding her entire degree program!!
Before the pandemic Feven pursued both her passion for dance and education with fever, she was persistent, she told us that she would not only find a way to balance studying and performing but she was determined to meticulously save her dance earnings.
While she was never very vocal about her career in dance at home with her family she made sure she was responsible, earning good grades and paying attention to lectures while accepting dance gigs for live performances and music videos, with the likes of Rayvanny, Vanessa Mdee, Diamond Platnumz and Marioo.
When the pandemic hit, financial struggles crept up, one of which was university tuition and a few past due bills at home. Feven’s dance savings were able to cover those costs at which point she was able to transform skepticism into support from her family. And through unwavering dedication and an undeniable talent she secured the bag and the degree.
Feven isn’t just about the moves though, she’s also about making a statement, she was very candid with us in stating that dance sometimes doesn’t pay as much as she would like, which is why she focuses on both her talent as a performer and as a communications professional. While Feven dazzles on the dance floor, her feet are firmly grounded in reality. Outside the realm of dance, Feven utilizes her bachelor’s degree in communication to navigate the professional world, strategically balancing her artistic pursuits with a fulfilling career.
During our chat with Feven she revealed, “I’m more of a freestyle dancer. Choreography isn’t really my thing, unless it’s for videos. I’m all about expressing myself through movement.” she said with her slicked back cornrows styled by Sof n Free. It’s this expressiveness and raw talent that has gained Feven a legion of devoted fans. Feven was quick to address another label often associated with her work.
“I don’t like the term video vixen. I prefer terms like: dancer, performer or music video artist.”
she asserted, reclaiming the narrative and advocating for a more respectful and accurate representation of her craft.
In a nation that still has a long way to go in terms of appreciating the arts, Feven dances not just with her body but with her heart, breaking barriers and inspiring others to follow their dreams.
Tell us, what inspired you most about this article? Was it Feven’s passion for dance or her ability to save? Leave us a comment and subscribe to our youtube channel HERE where you’ll get to watch our entire chat with Fevushka and other notable personalities we think you should know .
As always we are sending you a tight virtual hug!
Love, Gazzetea.
