Today we’d like to introduce you to Tahirah Mandisa
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I came out the womb with a ballerina tutu on so this is going to be a long story! I was born and raised in Bronx,NY and moved to GA my second year of college in 2014. I began dance at the small age of 3 years old. My mom and Dad really wanted me to take those swimming lessons that they paid for but I obviously had other plans. I very clearly told them, at 3 years old, that I wanted to be a ballerina. They listened and it was so long swimming and they immediately took me to a dance studio to begin my dancing journey. I have been in love with dance ever since and I also still cannot swim !
Through out the years I was truly blessed to be able to attend dance lessons to train and perfect my craft. When I was about 12 years old I had the huge honor of being selected to join Fancy Feet Dance Studio’s Competition team. With them I was able to complete many dance accomplishments throughout elementary school and high school.
Of course I couldn’t stop there, When I first began college I did try to take a break and focus on a more “profitable career path” as many wold say. I immediately hated not being able to dance and registered for one dance class my second semester. By the time I transferred to college in GA I completely switched to being a full dance major. I knew in my heart I had to dance for the rest of my life and I received my BFA in Dance May of 2018.
After receiving my BFA I went on to teaching at a number of different dance studios and for different companies. I did this for about 6 years till I realized I can definitely do this myself . In the summer of 2023 I was presented with the opportunity to begin teaching my own classes using own my brand.
Now Tahirah Mandisa Choreoraphy LLC has completed its first full year of classes and will be starting at new schools in the fall.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Nothing worth having comes easy and I will say being an African American woman trying to start her own business is not for the weak. Apart from all the possible business ins and outs that may give you a hard time. I am constantly having to make sure that I do everything perfectly, constantly having doors closed in my face, and it’s hard to get support most times.
I have actually been trying to start my business since 2019 and it took me about 4 years before I was able to land my first school. I have rebranded and given up multiple times. One thing I’ve learned from the whole ordeal is that perseverance really is worth it. The joy I felt starting my classes with my students was truly a feeling that no one can ever take from me.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Tahirah Mandisa Choreography LLC. (T.M.C) was founded with the sole purpose of helping kids fall in love with dance. With the philosophy that anyone can dance here at TMC we push for students to find their passion in dance whatever genre it may be .
Tahirah Mandisa Choreography LLC. specializes in working with children as young as 2 years of age to 6yrs old. In T.M.C classes students get to have fun but also learn all technical aspects of their dance class genre in a strategic manner via lesson plans and goal sheets. From balancing on their toes to raising their arms, dance utilizes the entire body and all of its muscle groups. Students will also develop emotionally, socially, cognitively, and will learn about dedication and discipline that will transfer over to school and other aspects of their lives.
Tahirah Mandisa Choreography LLC. Is currently looking for new schools to begin with for the fall.
Visit our website and leave a preschool that you think might be interested.
We also offer ballet or tap birthday party packages for children aged 3-10yrs old.
If you have any other dance needs
Please feel free to fill out a contact sheet on our website: www.tmchoreography.com
Pricing:
- Birthday Party Entertainment: $175
- Private Lessons: $80/hr
- OnSite Classes: $60-$8o/month
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.tmchoreography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tahirahmandisa
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tmchoreography/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/tahirah-mandisa-choreography-marietta
