Making moves: How Ashley Obai earns a living through dance
Ashley Obai grew up in a culture that celebrates dance. Initially self-taught, Ashley later enrolled in professional dance classes, becoming a dancer and choreographer for some of Kenya's famous musicians, including Charisma, Nviiri, and Fena Gitu.
Walk through Nairobi’s CBD, and you’ll see it. There are dance crews rehearsing between buildings and routines being built for TikTok. Performers are powering today’s entertainment scene.
What was once informal is quickly becoming an industry. In Kenya’s creative economy, talent alone is rarely enough. Work comes in gigs, income is unpredictable, and stability has to be built intentionally. For Ashley Obai, choreography is more than performance; it has become a way to earn, survive, and grow.
Watch the video to follow Ashley’s journey as a professional dancer and choreographer.