Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tanesha Payne. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Tanesha, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
I learned to dance and create movement through trial and error and being present. Yes, I took classes like jazz, ballet, and hip-hop that taught words that corresponded with specific movements and dance class etiquette, but it was the moments that I danced with my sister in the carport or with friends at a party that I really learned about myself as a mover. In those moments, I could try out new moves to see what worked. Enrolling in studio classes stifled my natural movement for a while because, in those spaces, there was a “right” and “wrong” way to do something. My aha moment happened when I found a way to marry my home dance experience with studio training.
Knowing what I know now, I wouldn’t change a thing. I believe that timing is everything, and I learned many lessons along the way which have made me who I am today. Our culture has this eagerness to grow up, graduate faster, or perfect a skill immediately, but for what? The essential skills, like tuning in to my body, connecting with those around me, and being curious, happened when I slowed down enough to be present.
I believe some of the biggest obstacles and strongest forces that have pushed people away and out of the dance that their soul yearns to perform are slowly changing, but we still have so much more to explore. These traits include power dynamics, the pursuit of “perfection” above all else, and body type over a healthy mind and body. I am also working to adjust the understanding of the work technique to include things such as self-care and rest. A common definition for technique is a skill or ability in a particular field and for me these have been essential to my development. In dancing, I believe that all the skills mentioned earlier, like connections and curiosity, are equally as crucial as plies, pirouettes, or flexibility.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
As a human and creative, I fill many roles that sharpen the others. The ones directly related to dance include choreographer, performer, advocate, facilitator, and teaching artist. I often say, “If it dances, I’m there.” Being curious about dance has put me in spaces where I lead classes of all ages and choreograph everything from local theatre productions to halftime performances. I’ve performed on stages, in rivers, and everything in between. I also partner with school districts as an arts integration specialist and service provider. In simple terms, I use my professional experience as a movement artist to support educators in teaching literacy, numeracy, and SEL skills.
Although I am very involved in integrating dance into the education of children, I am also very passionate about increasing appreciation for dance and inspiring adults to either continue or start dancing. Our culture doesn’t seem to support dance after we reach adulthood, and it’s one of my missions in life to change that. I love to educate people on the benefits that can be realized when dance is a part of our lives. I love to see dance help people with mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. From what I’ve seen in the world, everyone is a dancer, most people just don’t know it, and I love to help them realize it. Earlier this year, I started sumRset Movement, a professional dance company based in San Antonio, TX, with this mission in mind.
For me, dance is about sensing and responding to the world around me. Considering this, I dance through this life as a wife to a veteran, a mother to three, a sister to four, a daughter to four, and a friend to many. I can be found tapping my toes and humming while enjoying a good burger. I enjoy being in community with those around me and having a good laugh. I would much rather read a book than watch tv and can often be found asking all the questions. Moving in relation to all these everyday things influences my approach as an artist.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
To ensure that artists and creatives keep telling the stories of our communities, society can attend shows and gallery openings, shop local, gift tickets to events, make donations to local arts organizations, or share their work with those in your circle. Using your voice to keep the arts in our education system is another powerful way to keep the arts thriving because incredible creatives teach visual arts, dance, music, design, etc., in your neighborhood schools. I urge each of you reading this article to take a moment to assess how you can contribute to the creative ecosystem in your community. That could look like sharing a post, offering affordable rehearsal space, reviewing a contract for a freelance artist, and much more.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
My mission is to increase the visibility, accessibility, and appreciation for dance as a performing art in my community. In some spaces, dance is misunderstood and looked at as a juvenile hobby. I aim to create experiences that alter this way of thinking so adult dance artists like myself can thrive. As mentioned earlier, I have founded sumRset Movement, a professional dance company that takes contemporary dance into the community to create conversation, make it more approachable, and build community through movement.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.taneshapayne.com
- Instagram: @tanesha_payne1
- Facebook: @taneshapayne01
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanesha-payne-138286220/
Image Credits
Johnny Major Rivers III Musical Bridges Around the World Brittany Lopez Richard Payne Rob Michaelson Martha Istueta George Glass Gary Perkins