Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiffany Overby.
Tiffany, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’ve always loved to dance but as a child with low self-esteem I often found myself too scared to try out for anything. When I got in high school, I finally overcame that fear and joined my school’s dance team. Since then, I knew dancing was my outlet. As an adult, I joined my churches dance ministry, and as you can imagine, it took some time for me to transition my secular dance skills to those appropriate for church! After a couple years in the dance ministry, my confidence and self-esteem were increasing, I started taking adult ballet classes outside of church, and began perfecting my craft. After experiencing some personal tragedies and taking time off from dancing, I returned with a new fire, a new understanding and a new passion for the art of dance. Dancing at church allowed me to express my innermost deepest emotions, it allowed me to be free and helped me recover from the tragedies I had experienced. My dance leader and dance sisters all noticed a change in me and I took my level of dedication to a whole new level.
Fast forward several years, I was approached by a youth leader at the church who wanted me to become the Dance Leader for the youth department. After pushing the decision off for about a year, praying and seeking God’s face, I decided to take the position. During my transition, I began choreographing and learning the art of other dance styles, lyrical, contemporary, jazz, hip hop. I implemented all of these styles into my new role as a youth dance leader. I started a youth dance summer camp that my church hosted and offered to non-members as well as church members. I also signed the team up for the MLK parade, which was the first time in my churches history to be represented in the parade.
After three wonderful years of leading the youth dance team, I grew to a point where my vision and goals for the youth department outgrew the vision and goals of the leaders of the youth department. We were not able to agree on the direction the youth dancers should take. My passion got the best of me and I fought for my views for about six months, always being at odds with the youth leaders. This eventually led to the youth leaders sitting me down from my position. We tried mediation to align our visions but I had gotten to a point where I was hurt from their judgement and accepted that I would no longer be able to work under that style of leadership. So instead of continuing mediation, I voluntarily resigned.
I had already been contemplating opening my own dance studio but had put it on the back burner to dedicate my time to the youth dance ministry. But now I had the time I needed. I opened the TNT Explosive Dance Company in Sept 2019. With the blessing of my pastor, I was able to offer my dance services to the youth team I previously led and some of the girls I taught joined my dance company! By the end of the year, I had grew my dance company to 15 girls and two dance coaches! My dance company appeared in several community programs, local church events, and featured in the Martin Luther King Day Celebration! My dance company was growing exponentially and we were financially ready to launch our first dance recital. But… COVID 19 happened and we have had to postpone the recital. We are currently holding virtual rehearsals every other week or so during the stay home order and eagerly waiting to get back in the studio.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I would say, like any start-up company, there have been some struggles. But because this is my 2nd business, I learned a lot from opening my first business and didn’t run into as many challenges as I did with the first business. I have had to confront parents who had to adjust from working with a volunteer youth leader to now a dance director of a business. We all have had to adjust our mindsets to understand that we are running a business now and not volunteering for a church-based activity.
Another challenge is staying on top of parents to ensure they are paying their tuition fees on time and communicating effectively with me and my coaches. The biggest challenge has been COVID 19 it is really hard getting the parents to commit to virtual rehearsals. Where once I had a studio of 15 girls, I now have a virtual rehearsal with like 4 or 5 girls.
Please tell us about TNT Explosive Dance Company.
TNT Explosive Dance Company’s mission is to show the love of Jesus Christ through the gift of dance to inspire, empower, and encourage the lost, the lonely and the kingdom of God. Our Creative Styles: Liturgical, Ballet, Lyrical, Jazz, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Choreography, Prophetic, Competitive Dance, and Ministry Events.
We are a dance company for all youth ages 5 – 18 looking to learn different styles of dance, perfect their gift in dance and learn how to work in a team environment. Our goal is to give our youth a positive atmosphere to openly express themselves through dance, an environment where they can grow in their gift and a safe space to explore their dance abilities.
We realized that in the performing arts community, there was not a lot of representation of young Christian dancers. We witnessed youth dancers minister, on occasion, at special church events or services but didn’t see them get the same exposure at talent shows, parades, competitions or showcases. TNTEDC was created to take the Christian gift of dance outside the four walls of the church and to spread the love of Jesus throughout the performing arts world.
The students of TNTEDC will be trained to execute their gift in excellence while being taught life-long Christian principles to apply to their everyday lives. They will be taught how to positively express themselves through dance, how to handle the pressures of worldly temptation, and how to work in a team-centered environment. Students will be taught classical dance techniques, strength and core training, stamina building and be expected to minister at their greatest level of potential. They will be taught philanthropy and community outreach, accountability, and Christian principles. TNTEDC aims to build a skillful, Christian dancer that can take their gifts and training to the most elite dance schools or simple become a positive world-changer in their own communities and network.
What were you like growing up?
I was the oldest of three children, I came from a household where my father was the breadwinner and my mother was a homemaker. I grew up with low self-esteem and identity issues but had a solid family foundation and introduced to a basic Christian lifestyle. We took family vacations at least twice a year. Money was budgeted very strictly, we always had what we needed but wasn’t always able to get the things we wanted. My aunt played a major role in my childhood, helping my parents financially to try and get me the things I wanted and allowing me to spend time at her house every weekend.
I was a very smart student, always did my homework and graduated with honors after attending a college preparatory magnet school. I remember wanting to be a teacher, then wanting to be a lawyer, then wanting to be a business owner (in the restaurant industry, even though I did not like cooking). I remember wanting to be married to a man name Antonio (I actually married an Antwoine) and wanting two children. (I have one as of now).
Pricing:
- Donations to the dance studio are always welcomed starting at $1 and up
- Sponsorship packages are available- sponsors can pay for an underprivileged child’s tuition fees for 1mo, 3mos, 6mos or 12 mos
- Dancer tuition is $75/month
Contact Info:
- Address: 6110 Powers Ave Suite 5 Jacksonville, Florida
- Phone: 9042742077
- Email: tntexplosivedance@gmail.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tntexplosivedancecompany/
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