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At 21, Herrvena believed life was simple. She was carefree, free spirited, and lived without worrying much about tomorrow. Then one night, everything changed in seconds after a car accident left her body broken and her future uncertain
Today at 31 years old, she carries metal plates in both arms, lives with radial nerve injury, and battles chronic pain.
But she also carries something stronger: a purpose that turned trauma into triumph, and a dance journey that healed not just herself, but others too.
When everything stopped
Before the accident, Herrvena saw dance merely as a hobby. But lying in bed for six months, unable to even brush her teeth or feed herself, it taught her a lesson she would never forget—nothing in life should be taken for granted.
She suffered broken bones in both arms, a nerve injury that left her wrist unable to lift for months, and a fractured leg. Simple tasks like eating, changing clothes, or even personal hygiene required help.
I recalled asking myself why this happened to me. I felt angry, frustrated, and helpless. Six months before the accident, I had gone through a painful breakup. Then came the crash.
“At the lowest point of my life, I promised myself that if I recovered, I would turn that pain into power. Soon, that promise became dance itself,” she reminisced.
From breakdown to breakthrough
While recovering, she could barely move. But when her friends played music and encouraged her to dance, she would shake her leg slightly and vibe along within the limits of her body. She still grooved. That tiny spark reminded her how deeply movement made her feel alive.
This was unsurprising, given the fact that she had spent years honing her dancing skills across various styles.
“For more than 10 years, I trained in Bharatanatyam at Temple of Fine Arts. I also explored hip hop, Bollywood, lyrical, popping, and fusion, where I was taught by renowned teachers in Mumbai.
“But it wasn’t until after the accident that I decided to take dance seriously as a life path,” she said.
When she turned 24, Herrvena opened her own studio despite the physical limitations and doubt that came in her way.
She shared that she does not represent a normal dancer as she has metal plates in her body and is in pain every day. But she still dances on.
“There were nights I returned home from teaching and my arm froze completely. There were also moments where I sat alone in my car and cried, wondering if my career would only last two years.
“But every time I thought of giving up, I remembered why I did it in the first place. It wasn’t for fame or to make viral reels. It was for me to heal.”
Building a 7-figure dream
Herrvena’s studio grew into a profitable space where students came not just to learn choreography, but to reconnect with themselves. She taught Kollywood, Bollywood, and classical fusion.
She also choreographed major projects for Malaysian brands and viral music videos, with one of them being a film project she worked with a renowned Indian director.
Today, she’s an entreprenuer with multiple businesses generating 7 figure revenue, leading U2K Team, The Haven Crew & wellness retreats. She’s also a Bollywood Teacher at Temple of Fine Arts.
Watching kids discover joy through movement is everything to me. That is where my heart feels full,” she added.
“My parents were the ones who stood by me when I could not even feed herself. When others disappeared, they stayed.
“Support from family and friends carried me through the hardest days. Over time, I grew stronger mentally, even when the physical pain never left.”
Challenges are not blocks, they are steps forward
Looking back, Herrvena believes many people see challenges as roadblocks to success. But in reality, every journey comes with blocks, and the higher you climb, the bigger they become.
“You have to go through them,” she explained. “Once you pass one, you move forward to the next. Every challenge brings us closer to success if we choose to change our perspective and build resilience.”
She shared that if the accident never happened, she would not be where she is today. The pain shaped her path. The struggle built her strength. The setback became her setup.
Choosing meaning over money
When asked what she is most proud of, Herrvena did not talk only about success. She spoke about growth.
She is proud she opened her dance studio at a young age. She is proud that even when recognition and success came, she stayed humble and aware of her journey.
She admitted that money and fame felt exciting at first. But even when she had them, her soul was not fully satisfied because her heart was not truly happy.
That realisation led her to a new direction. Today, she focuses on wellness and healing through movement. She believes movement is medicine. She encourages people to look inward and do inner work.
After letting go of her studio, she continued dancing with her crew. She has now expanded into organising wellness retreats for individuals who want to reconnect with themselves and heal from within.
A different kind of dancer
To Herrvena, perfection isn’t everything as she believes dance is not about showing off. Rather, it’s about going inward, listening to your body, and healing.
“You do not have to let go of your dreams just because life dealt you a bad hand. While the pain is always there, so is the strength,” she said.
Herrvena did not just return to dance. She redefined what it means to rise. And in every student she inspires, her chance to continue dancing lives on.
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