Dancing Through Life: How This Professional Dancer and Entrepreneur Rediscovered Passion, Balance, and Creativity in Motherhood

In the whirlwind of life’s ever-changing stages, Elizabeth De Moraes - a professional dancer, TED Talk speaker, and coach - reminds us that our true self never fades away; it simply awaits rediscovery. In a candid conversation with Ekaterina of Trust Me Mom, Elizabeth shared her journey from international dance floors to the challenges of motherhood, and ultimately, back to her artistic passion.

LIsten to 'trust me mom' podcast

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Listen to the podcast with Elizabeth's interview on Spotify and Apple Podcast.

From European Stages to American Dreams
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Elizabeth’s life before kids was a whirlwind of movement and art. From the tender age of four, she was captivated by dance - a passion that led her from training in Europe to teaching and performing across the continent. Living in diverse cultures not only enriched her craft but also expanded her worldview. It was during this vibrant chapter that fate introduced her to love, Andre, and, later, to the decision to build a life in the United States.  
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Elizabeth recounted, “Andre was studying in Belgium. At this point, I had moved to England to do my graduate work there, and his sister was getting married.” Andre’s sister was Elizabeth’s colleague, and she invited Elizabeth to attend her wedding in Brazil. Elizabeth chuckled, remembering that her friend advised her against dating Brazilian guys because they could be very macho. As fate has it, Andre was Brazilian, and they hit it off.

After maintaining a long-distance relationship for a while, they eventually moved to Dallas, TX, where both of them continued their graduate education. Elizabeth enjoyed teaching and dancing, and then… their first daughter was born.

​The Challenge of Motherhood

Motherhood arrived as both a joyful and challenging transition. As Elizabeth navigated sleepless nights and the tender demands of her infant daughter, she discovered the importance of being fully present for her child while still honoring her own professional aspirations. Whether taking her daughter to rehearsals or creating a nurturing space in her classroom, she blended professional commitments with the intimate moments that define parenting.

“It was easy to bring her into that community and flow with it, but at the same time, very challenging because if [kids] start crying or need you, there's that push-pull type of thing. But I was blessed to have her around. I was able to take her with me when I traveled to the school. I had my own office, a playpen and a place where she could nap. She was with me throughout the day, and I still got my work done. When I was teaching, I hired different students to babysit her. It was really special to have that option and these kids who so lovingly wanted to be with her. But it was challenging. It's a transition.”

Elizabeth eventually left her dancing career to focus on her family. A few years later, her second daughter arrived.

Reconnecting with the Artist Within

After years devoted to her children and entrepreneurial pursuits, Elizabeth felt a stirring - a sense that a vital piece of her identity was missing. She reflected, “I got so far removed from that part of my life that later on in my coaching, people would say, but you're a creative, Elizabeth, you are so creative. And it was almost a shock to hear … is that really me? Is that part of my identity? I'd so far pulled myself away from that! And what really hit me was my girls had never seen me dance live.”

In 2018, a local “Dancing for the Stars” event beckoned her back to the dance floor. It was a charitable event for the Rotary Club where business celebrities were paired with ballroom dancers to compete and raise funds for the organization. Elizabeth shared, “This was my first step back into training my body act - and I get chills when I speak about it because it really got me reconnected with my love of dance, and pushing my body, and being creative, and expressing myself. My whole being and my daughters get to witness that for the first time. And that was such a special feeling and reminder!”
 
It was here that the power of artistic expression reawakened her spirit. Even at 53, she dared to audition for a full-fledged dance company, embracing the vulnerability of not being as nimble as she once was. Though the path was challenging, it reaffirmed a crucial truth: creativity is not bound by age or circumstance; it’s a part of who we are.

Balancing Dreams and Family Life

Elizabeth’s journey is also a masterclass in balance. She reveals how open communication, setting clear “tethers” with her children, and building a robust support system have allowed her to pursue her passions without compromising family time. Whether she was preparing a media kit for the Emmys or coordinating schedules at home, her strategy was always clear - stay connected, be present, and trust in the process. Her approach serves as an inspiring blueprint for moms juggling multiple roles.

“As an entrepreneur, I made sure, especially at the beginning, that whatever I was doing I could do from home. Even though the timing might be different for spending time with them [referring to kids] or being present, I was still present at certain points of the day. For example, if I needed to do networking, often those things can happen in the evenings. They would understand, 'I'm with you all day today; I will be gone for a little bit later tonight.' In most cases, it's the flip. Parents are gone for the day, and then we get to be together for dinner in the evening. It's a matter of creating a scenario for yourself that works for you and lets you be close to your family.

The other thing is setting up that environment and having lines of open communication with them - what I call ‘tethers.’ I remember telling them, 'Mommy has to focus for the next month.' If I'm constantly on my computer, I'm writing, I'm re-editing, I'm rewriting and all of these things. I know I'm here - that's why I set it up that I could be at home - but know that I'm going to be focused on that. My tether was at the end, though: we're going to do X, Y and Z. I will promise that for the month after that, you will never see me with my laptop or my phone.”

Elizabeth also suggested getting additional support, such as hiring “mommy helpers” to do tasks around the house to offload some of the chores.

A Message of Empowerment

In her final reflections, Elizabeth offers heartfelt advice to all moms:
 
“Know that you will get through it and that with everything, just like your heart beats - contracts and releases, contracts and releases your lungs - they expand and they come back. That is automatically how our bodies are, but that's also how life is as well. That's how money is as well. You can have abundance. Everything goes in and out.

So, understand that when you are in what might feel like the ‘exhale’ part of your life where it's like, ‘I feel so depleted. I feel so tired. I don't know who I am anymore. I don't know who I am in relation to my partner anymore.’ Know that and settle in the belief and the faith that you will regain who you are through this process. You will have more sleep, you will have more rest, and you'll be at a different part in your life where all of this, this muck that you might be in the middle of is going to contribute so much to your future and to your story and how you can relate to other people.  You can use all the skills that you're learning right now through being thrown into the fire at some point.” She reminds us that the hardship of motherhood will eventually translate into the ability to better relate to other people and can improve our communication skills.

Elizabeth also cautioned moms not to completely dissolve in motherhood to avoid a realization that once kids are going to college, “now your identity is completely smashed because it's been all wrapped up in your child ... Having your own identity is not selfish. Because sometimes we'll think, but I've got to devote everything to my child. Yeah, but then what do you have?”

Her words resonate deeply - reminding us that investing in our personal growth is not selfish, but essential. By staying true to ourselves, we not only enrich our own lives but also set a powerful example for our children.

Embrace Your Season

Elizabeth’s story is a celebration of evolution - of finding balance between the roles we play and the dreams we nurture. It encourages every mom to dare to step back into the spotlight, to keep dancing through life, no matter the season. For more on Elizabeth’s inspiring journey and resources on creativity and self-expression, visit https://www.elizabethdemoraes.com/ or follow her on Instagram @iamelizabethdemoraes.
 
Whether you’re a dancer, an entrepreneur, or a mom forging your own path, remember: you are a work of art, continuously evolving, beautifully resilient, and forever in motion.