Inspiring children (and some adults) to dance to their own beats is author Refiloe Moahloli, who shares the story of Zazi, a brave little girl, who finally follows her dreams.
South Africa (24 July 2025) – Touched by the energy and enthusiasm of her 7-year-old niece, Refiloe Moahloli penned a children’s book, “Dance to Your Own Beat”, to inspire a love for dancing and to encourage children to follow their dreams.
Zazi, who is illustrated in the book, dreams about dancing, but she’s too scared to try. Instead, she blends into the choir at school. She doesn’t mind singing, but she loves dancing. With encouragement from her parents, who highlight the beauty of Zazi’s ancestry, she finally faces her fears and finds the courage to listen to her heart.
When she finally dances to her own beat, Zazi finds out that being true to herself is the most empowering and exciting moment of all. She leaves the hall of her school to cheers of encouragement. It’s a deeply heartwarming tale that is set to inspire the littles in your life to follow their dreams.
Opening the book, the inner cover is lined with Zazi’s inspiring dance and warm-up moves, something you can do at home with the children as a fun activity to get active and to dance to your own beat.
Refiloe, who is a bestselling author, has always felt passionate about sharing stories that bring out the best of the human spirit. She has penned many children’s books, this being her 9th for Pan Macmillan South Africa. Included in her works is the book “All of these things are important to me”, which helps raise awareness for ADHD and was featured by us in 2019.
Growing up in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape, Refiloe obtained a B.Comm degree in Information Systems from the University of Witwatersrand, which she pursued in the corporate world, but she has since become a full-time writer.
Working with illustrator Gabi Boy, the duo brought Zazi to life in a bright and colourful storybook, perfect for children to understand. Gabi is an award-winning illustrator and captured the spirit of Zazi perfectly.
As an added bonus, Refiloe includes her own reading of the book so parents can take the night off, enjoying the book alongside their children as Refiloe tells Zazi’s tale.
If you would like to learn more about this book, visit its website here. It is also available at all major literary retailers and online. The book is also available in isiZulu, isiXhosa, Sesotho and Afrikaans.
Interested in more proudly South African books? You can find more of our book reviews here.
by 