I Just Want to Dance... & Eat

11528 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604, “I’m sure there’s a Starbucks or something over there.” My Aux cord didn’t want to cooperate so I’m riding in silence accompanied by my thoughts. Hmm, studio city? Never been there before. I wonder where we’re meeting. I park my car on a nearby hill, praying that it isn’t street cleaning day. I still don’t know where I’m going but I hope the food is good. Millennium Dance Complex?! There’s no way. This compressed box with minimal parking is the mecca of dance? My cyber home during my undergraduate years? This building is the home of the quintessential burgundy walls with endless mirrors? Where Aisha Francis and Yanis Marshall absolutely demolished their Freakum Dress choreography? Oh no, I’m not worthy, where’s my inhaler?!God I can’t play these games! Had I known, I would’ve brought water, wore sweats, did my eyebrows, I can’t come to Heaven unprepared. Wait, I’m here for something… Right! Grad School, you’re an interviewer, have some class. As I ascend the steps of greatness, I see dancers changing, stretching, reviewing that last 8 count. All that Jazz. It’s a bit intimidating and I’m not even there to dance.  I look to the right, and I’m greeted by the warm smile of Tiffany Simone.  The interview began.

 

“For some people, it’s literally not in their DNA to have a 9-5. I’m way too creative to be sitting behind a desk.” She took the words right out of my mouth. Growing up, dancing professionally was nothing more than a dream that I was quickly awoken from. Tiffany Simone is a 26-year-old Dancer/Choreographer with a sultry vibe, the nastiest hair whip that you will ever see in a studio, and a degree in psychology from California State University, Northridge (CSUN). She is also the creator of Stiletto Strut, a dance company located here in Los Angeles. The Belizean California native has been dancing since the age of 3. And while she may describe herself as shy, Miss Simone is truly a force to be reckoned with. “Everybody kept telling me that you need to be doing this, because that little girl has star potential” We all have to start, somewhere right? So, I had to ask, “What was your first big gig?”

“My first gig was my first music video,  I was eight years old. Mase featuring Harlem World, ‘I like it’” Now for my 90’s babies who know, Mase was the rap Dr. Seuss of my childhood. From Take Me There featuring Mya, all the way to Breathe Stretch, & Shake. I’m am so here for this interview right now. “What?! So how did you find out about that?  Little did I know, the answer to this question was going to give me a very necessary asthma attack. “I did a workshop in front of different agents. Which, I don’t think they really do anymore. One of the agents told me, I want to sit you in front of the choreographer which was Fatima.” FREEZE THE FOOTAGE “The one who choreographs for Aaliyah?” I had to know. “Yeah” She casually responds. Now remember we are currently in front of Heaven (Millennium Dance Complex) so I am trying to keep all the class I have and not scream. So, as I listen back to this interview I hear my very calm “Oh I love her” but in my mind and in my soul, I’m jumping up and down, screaming, doing the Harlem shake. *Sings* I’m three people away from Aaliyah. This is really a moment for me.  Fatima Robinson has choreographed some of Aaliyah’s biggest videos. Let that sink in. I must fan myself and move on. Now the title of this story is, “I Just want to Dance… and Eat” So let’s find out about her support system.  “Were your parents supportive?”

 “Yeah, they’re from Belize so their whole purpose for coming out here was for opportunity. So when it was something like television or entertainment, they were gung ho.” As she continues about her support system, I can’t help but be a bit envious. Dance was never a potential career for me, if it wasn’t nursing or something guaranteed to provide me with healthcare, chile, *That’s southern slang for “child”, for my northern folks* forget about it. My mom was not hearing it. “How do you feel about the question of whether you should chase a dream or play it safe?”

“I’m all for chasing the dream. I’ve played it safe when I’ve been discouraged. I’ve gone out and tried to get a regular job. That would only last for two months because I’m like DON’T PUT ME IN A BOX, this is not where I’m supposed to be, this doesn’t feel right.” May the church say AMEN! 

That next day, I interviewed Achinta McDaniel, a Dancer/ Choreographer and Professor at the new Kauffman School of Dance at USC. Achinta is also the creator of Blue13 Dance Company located here in LA. You better go on girl. Now, Achinta has also had her fair share of 9-5 jobs “To support my dance habit, by day I worked in a doctor’s office as a receptionist. I worked there for a year. I could've been dancing but I wanted to pay the bills. I felt overwhelmed, but at night I was dancing and still making work as an aids outreach counselor. Running around to clubs and handing out condoms.” I laughed because I may have encountered her at a point. Imagine. Embarrassing. Originally from Queens NY, Achinta also started dancing at the age of three. “When I was three years old, I got into dance. Ballet and Tap. Then Jazz, then fell in love with modern at 14.” Interestingly enough, Achinta isn’t teaching any of the aforementioned genres. She teaches Bollywood & Bhangra which she considers, “The Hip Hop of India” now for those of you that don’t know, Bhangra is a very energetic form of dance. Not necessarily ideal for someone who considers, a light jog to the corner store, a workout. You’ve been warned. Achinta, a New York University Graduate, also admits that, while her parents were supportive, they weren’t head over heels at the idea of her pursuing dance professionally. “They weren't thrilled at first while I was in high school.” “They would always say, ‘Why don't you take some business classes also?’” Followed by the “Phrase that pays” as Achinta calls it, “At least you have something to fall back on.” If I had a dime for the amount of times I’ve heard this, I wouldn’t have to worry about a stable income. Achinta said that she interpreted this as “We care but… eh you may not make it.”

Achinta admits that she did feel some pressure to teach dance for financial security but she noticed that no one was teaching Bollywood and she ultimately fell in love with it. She notes the growth of live/ concert dance culture here in LA. “I've seen such a huge revolution of dance in the live, concert and dance world. We still have a lot of work to do but it's good to see it growing. We're getting visibility all over the country and internationally as well. Mexico, China, Canada. People that own theaters are doing bookings for dancers in LA.” The Kauffman school is also seeing a rise in attention. Recently, 104 students declared minors in dance! With six major dance agencies and a growing following, it seems like LA is the place to be for dancers, who knows, you may see me on stage one day.