Shalini Soochit-Roopnarine is lighting up more than just the Miss Universe Trinidad and Tobago 2025 stage, she’s illuminating a path to healing through movement. As one of this year’s inspiring finalists, Shalini is using her platform to champion a cause close to her heart: mental health awareness. Through her Voice for Change initiative, Rhythms for Resilience, she’s combining two of her greatest passions: dance and advocacy, to create a safe and joyful space for others to reconnect with themselves.

A seasoned dancer, tutor and artistic director of the renowned Prema Shakti Dancers, Shalini is no stranger to the transformative power of movement. She’s long known that dance can do more than entertain; it can restore. Her workshops under Rhythms for Resilience are built on that belief, offering participants a chance to move, breathe, release and heal.

“As women, we carry so much. Caregiving, hormonal shifts, societal pressures; it all adds up,” Shalini shares. “Mental health isn’t something we’re always encouraged to talk about, but we must. We need spaces where it’s safe to speak, safe to move and safe to be vulnerable.”

Having personally navigated anxiety and spoken to many others who silently battle depression or stress, Shalini felt called to take action. And so Rhythms for Resilience was born – offering free, inclusive dance-based workshops that encourage both emotional expression and physical wellness.

The first workshop, themed around hip hop, welcomed 10 participants, many of them newcomers to dance – who left glowing with energy and hope. “I felt seen,” said one attendee. “I left feeling lighter.” For others, it marked the start of a deeper journey into their own self-care.

And the journey continues. Shalini is now inviting everyone to her next Rhythms for Resilience workshop this Saturday, June 14 at La Danse Caraibe in Woodbrook. It’s open to the public, free of charge and no dance experience is needed. While the sessions are designed with a special focus on women’s wellness, men are warmly encouraged to attend too.

Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or just curious to try, you’ll find a space to reconnect, move freely and perhaps discover the healing rhythm your heart’s been waiting for.

After all, in Shalini’s world, dance isn’t just an art form, it’s a lifeline.

Follow Shalini’s journey on instagram: @shalinisoochit_mtt2025 @rhythmsforresilience

For more info contact: 480-8351