We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sneha Dama a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Sneha , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

Absolutely! I can say with confidence that I’m truly doing what I love. I’ve had my fair share of 9-to-5 experiences, and those certainly come with benefits. Being able to have a set schedule, enjoy evenings and weekends after finishing a set of tasks, and feeling financially secure with a regular salary are all perks of having a “regular job”. Starting a small business or creative venture can have the lure of being exciting and adventurous, but it, of course, does not readily come with these benefits. It requires stepping outside of your comfort zone, being ready to accept a shift in your financials at the beginning and wearing multiple hats. You’re the accountant, the marketer, the operations lead and overall a business of one as an entrepreneur. The grind really is 24/7.

I wouldn’t be truthful if I said going back to the 9-t0-5 didn’t cross my mind now and then, but nothing beats the feeling when you make your clients happy and in my profession, that means I contribute in some way to helping them craft a special moment through the artistic expression of dance. The fact I am able to decide my own schedule, be responsible for the work I provide to my clients, see how my clients appreciate my work and overall how I am able to create my future is so rewarding and fulfilling!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Sneha Dama and I am from Houston, TX! I founded Sunrise Dance – specializing in professional, customized choreography for weddings and events – because I truly want to be part of helping you create the moments that spark joy and wow the audience on your special day. From curating the perfect first dance for the bride and groom, to those heartfelt performances with parents and wedding party dances that rock the venue, Sunrise helps you create performances that leave lasting, cherished memories.

It was truly love at first dance when I began my journey at the age of 6 and it’s been a part of my life ever since. When my journey in corporate America became a bit mundane to my liking, I started to feel unfulfilled. My heart was telling me that I am meant to follow my passion for dance and do much more. My mind was, understandably, a little more hesitant. Nonetheless, I decided to take the plunge and leave the corporate job and the benefits it provided to see how I could start
something that would be near and dear to me.

Around this time, I had my first experience with the wedding industry and started to plan weddings under the guidance of one of Houston’s elite wedding planners. Throughout my experience, I came to realize soon enough that the entertainment portions of these weddings was what I enjoyed the most! It sparked the idea – What if I apply my dance experience to the wedding industry? The South Asian Wedding Industry in particular places significant importance on the entertainment program. It might seem like a niche, but Houston’s South Asian population is massive and growing.
This idea led to a flurry of questions like “Would be people be interested in this?” “What would make it different from what they’re doing now?” and “Can I do this?” but I was hooked. I wanted to bring the idea to life and began building my brand and
reaching out to potential customers. I had finally discovered that I could potentially do something while staying true to my passion of dance.

Then, the pandemic hit. Everything came to a halt. But as we found our way through to the new normal and as everything adapted to virtual, so did my idea. I shifted my focus into building my brand identity. I embraced social media to drive brand awareness and engage with my humble, but growing, audience. I knew that when things started to move back towards normal, I too would be able to move quickly. Once weddings started to resume, even with restrictions, people started reaching out. It wasn’t long until I signed my first contract and then all of a sudden, almost 3 years later, here we are!

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

Operating in the unknown. Each day is different than the one before, and tomorrow will be new as well. I think the hardest part is overcoming having a sense of routine. But once you get used to it, you won’t ever want to go back. I’m in charge of my destiny and I get to follow my creative passion. Taking the path less taken is often hard, but it is so much more rewarding to me.

For creatives and non-creatives alike, I think it’s about trusting yourself and your ability to harness your talents to chart a journey for yourself. But knowing now what it takes to build something from the ground up, I have a renewed respect for those doing the same. Some are even juggling part-time or full-time jobs while trying to start their business. I’m always heartened when I see the support or exposure they receive. Working with creative entrepreneurs can at times be messy as they try to balance everything on their plate to make their dreams come true, so I would encourage customers to be receptive of that and trust that they will ultimately deliver on the work they are hired for.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I would say I’m very much still building! Growing a following on social media is an ongoing process, and I spend time focusing on it daily. If there is anything that I have learned throughout my experience, it is that consistency and staying true to your work and yourself is key. I know many have shared the same advice, but it really is what works! Your audience on social media wants to get a sense of who you are.

When I started on social media, I always wanted my work to speak for me. I would avoid sharing my personal life because I wanted my audience to engage only with my work. However, it’s equally as important to let your personality shine through. People want to know the person behind the brand. They want someone they can relate to and being able to relate to someone is the first step in establishing trust. When I speak to customers that discovered me through social media, they already have a sense for the type of person I am, and they find it easier to trust that I can deliver on the services they need.

Keeping a sense of privacy is certainly important, and being authentic online can mean sharing a bit more about your personal life. But social media can take its toll. Always remember the importance of true relationships and do not get lost in developing a persona for social media. And above all else, the numbers on social media do not define who you are or your worth. Overall, stay true, be you and do your work with good intention, and you are already winning!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sunrise-dance.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/sdweddingchoreo
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/sdweddingchoreo
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SunriseDance

Image Credits
MnM Photography Anna and Mateo Geoff Studio Jillian Zamora @gypcgirlphotography