Today we’d like to introduce you to Takia “Tiki” Hopson.
Hi Takia “Tiki”, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Well, I am originally from Atlanta and spent the majority of my childhood attending school in Douglasville, GA. I started dancing when I was just 2 years old and started attending DanceMakers of Atlanta in 2000 when I was 3. Growing up, I was interested in everything, but my passion for dance was always at the forefront. I started competing when I was 5 years old. I was in 1st grade when I did a dance to a James Brown song and won my school’s talent show. The reaction that I received made me feel like I was actually good at what I loved to do. I performed in every single school talent show after that. I just loved the stage, and I loved showing my friends and teachers what I could do. At the end of my 8th grade year, I booked my first professional dance job, and that was when I knew I wanted to make dance my career. There was nothing I loved doing more. My studio produced so many successful professionals that inspired me then (and still do today), so dance as a career seemed so tangible.
I continued training and going to dance conventions throughout high school, and in my senior year, my peers voted me Most Talented. I had already decided as a child that I was going to go to college to dance, so in my junior year of high school, I was applying and auditioning everywhere. I received scholarship offers from Southern Methodist University that made my choice pretty easy, and so to Dallas, Texas I went! I was very excited considering I would be attending the alma mater of so many people I had looked up to including my long-term studio directors. I definitely experienced the most growth and expansion while attending SMU, and I attribute my love of choreographing to my time there.
So in a nutshell, I was fortunate to discover my passion at a very young age and blessed to be able to expand my dance training even further at an accredited university.
I graduated from SMU in 2019 with a BFA in Dance Performance and a BA in Journalism. I moved back to Atlanta and started doing anything I could from TV/Film projects to teaching and doing music videos and stage performances.
Now I consider myself a professional freelance dancer, and I am all over the city! Though I got my start on the west side of Atlanta, I perform and teach everywhere. Right now, I am mainly teaching youth classes while working different professional dance jobs. I just recently made my debut with the Atlanta Opera as “Egyptian Commander” in their production of Julius Caesar.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have definitely been some bumps along the road in my journey to where I am today. The transition into college was very hard for me, and I started to become very unsure of myself and my capabilities. I dealt with extreme lows. I often questioned my worth as a dancer, and the struggle was heightened because I was far from home, and I kept those thoughts to myself. I didn’t talk to anyone about it, so I just dealt with it. It was definitely a test of my mental and physical strength, and I am stronger now because of it. After graduating, I felt like a new beginning was happening, but I still had underlying doubts in my head because I was coming back to Atlanta. I had held this notion for so long that I needed to move to a big city known for dance and the arts. I just didn’t think there was much for me to do here as a dancer. Boy was I wrong! I had no idea how beneficial returning to Atlanta would be for me. The people I have met and the connections I have made are ones I wouldn’t trade for the world. The experience I’ve gained just from coming and working hard have made everything so worth it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a performing artist. I perform for different artists and companies around Atlanta. I joined a professional dance company Komansè Dance Theater under the direction of Raianna C. Brown soon after returning to Atlanta and have performed various projects with them as a company member. I also recently performed as a guest soloist for City Gate Dance Theatre under the direction of Jennifer Davis for their production of “Roses”. I am also a teacher, and I mainly specialize in teaching kids in both group classes and private lessons.
As a dancer, I’m known for my versatility. I pride myself on being well-versed in all things dance, with emphasis on my training and experience with different genres. I’ve made it a point to stay connected to all the styles of dance that I was introduced to as a kid, and I’ve been able to do everything from ballets & operas to music videos & TV shows because of that. I definitely think my well-roundedness helps set me apart as a dancer in Atlanta.
I am honestly just so proud of myself for continuing to live in my passion and purpose. One thing in particular that stands out, however, is my first choreographic endeavor with a professional dance company. A few months after graduating from college, I was commissioned to create a piece for Texas-based ballet company Ballet Dallas. When the artistic director, Carter Alexander, first came to me about it, I was so nervous! But the piece turned out beautifully, and it’s definitely one of the things I’m most proud of.
What are your plans for the future?
I get so excited when thinking about my future because I know I have blessings on the way. I am most looking forward to what God has in store for me, and I plan on continuing to put my best foot forward in all situations. I’ve learned that I can do all the planning in the world, but what is for me will be for me. And a lot of the time, what’s for me is even greater than what I could’ve planned for myself. With that being said, my future feels so bright, and I truly believe that if I surround myself with positive individuals and work hard presently, I will continue to open doors for the future.
Contact Info:
- Email: tikihops@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tikihops/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TAKIA-1854245258211448
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwNdCTVj-K3p7-q_2FJ51aA
Image Credits:
Michole Kemp
Kemi Griffin
DamnJohnnie
Paul Phillips
Tania Lopez
