Wave Makers — Episode 4: Dana, the Heart Behind Dance Lightly

Wave Makers — Episode 4: Dana, the Heart Behind Dance Lightly

Riding Waves and Inspiring Transformation Through Surf and Mindfulness

In the fourth episode of our Wave Makers series, we meet Dana Hamann, surfer and co-founder of Dance Lightly, a retreat brand that fuses surfing with self-growth. If you’ve surfed in Indonesia in recent years, chances are you’ve seen Dana gliding with elegance across the waves.

But beyond her style in the water lies a journey of resilience, simplicity, and purpose. In this interview, Dana shares her story in her own words — from the birth of Dance Lightly to the challenges of social media pressure, and the rituals that keep her grounded.

 

The Birth of Dance Lightly 🙏

The essence of what we wanted to create with Dance Lightly — retreats that help people navigate the waves of life with more ease, grace, and lightness.

Dance Lightly wasn’t born from a business plan, but from a calling. I grew up surfing, and over the years I traveled to places like Australia, Mexico, Fiji, and Indonesia. I worked alongside local surf schools, taught in different cultures, and absorbed the many ways communities connect with the ocean.

When Daniela and I combined my years in the water with her gift for hosting and creating safe spaces, Dance Lightly naturally came to life. For us, these retreats are not just surf trips — they’re containers for authenticity, connection, and transformation.

A Day in My Life 🐾

From the outside, my life might look like a highlight reel: surfing beautiful waves, living in Indonesia, running retreats. But my day-to-day is intentionally simple.

I start my mornings early, sometimes with bone broth instead of coffee. I sweep my floors to clear my space, meditate with the Insight Timer app, stretch, and handwrite three pages in my journal. That practice grounds me before I dive into work.

Afternoons often include yoga, a surf session, or a walk with my dog, Ludo. Evenings are reserved for quiet dinners, reading, or a movie. It’s a pace I’ve learned to protect, and it keeps me present.

My Essentials ✨

Growth, Struggle, and Social Media Pressure 🌱

From 2,000 to over 20,000. At first it was exciting, but soon I felt the pressure — to always perform, to never fall, to always be ‘on.

I realized I was missing the joy of what I had built because I was chasing the next thing. The visibility also amplified old patterns of comparison and self-judgment. To protect myself, I had to change my relationship with social media: I set limits, muted or unfollowed triggering accounts, stayed away from the explore page, and even took a month-long break.

Rituals for Resilience 🧘

At the end of 2024, I committed to one year of non-negotiable rituals that help me stay centered:

  • Yoga: at least 15 minutes a day, guided by how my body feels.

  • Meditation: starting with 7 minutes and growing to 11, always focused on breath and presence.

  • Journaling: three handwritten pages every morning, inspired by The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron.

These daily practices bring me clarity and energy. They are the foundation I need for my well-being and my work.

The Future of Dance Lightly 🕯️

After hosting eight retreats a year for three years, Daniela and I are shifting our focus. We’ll still run retreats, but fewer — making them more intentional and exclusive. At the same time, we want to create more accessible ways for people to connect with themselves: online tools, resources, and products inspired by the ocean.

Not everyone can join us in person, but everyone deserves the chance to feel more connected, more intuitive, and more empowered.

Flow, Don’t Force 🌀

If there’s one phrase guiding me into this next chapter, it’s this: Flow, don’t force.

Growth doesn’t always come from pushing harder — sometimes it comes from moving with the currents, trusting the process, and showing up authentically. The ocean keeps teaching me this lesson, and it’s one I want to share with others.