We were lucky to catch up with Tanvi Dave recently and have shared our conversation below.

Tanvi, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

I was first exposed to Zumba at a local gym in Austin, and I knew right away this was something I would love to teach someday – it was a perfect combination of Dance and Group Fitness!

I started training and got my Zumba Instructor Licenses, AFAA (Athletics & Fitness Association of America) Group Fitness Certification and BollyX (Bollywood Fitness) Instructor Certifications for kids and adults.

I quickly realized how much of a positive impact the business of teaching Dance Fitness could have in peoples’ lives. After teaching for local businesses and gyms for a couple of years, I decided to start my own business called ‘Tadka Dance’.
This gave me the perfect platform to implement my ideas of building a strong community, while training and supporting local instructors. I also got very excited about the fact that I could now organize my own fundraisers and support various causes locally and internationally.

Tanvi, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My interest in dance and fitness started at a very young age. I grew up in Nairobi, Kenya where I was exposed to several forms of dance. From Aerobics Fitness to Classical Indian Dance, I truly enjoyed the technique, rhythmic movements and discipline involved in dance. I trained for several years and got to perform at numerous cultural events, weddings and school functions. The energy and adrenaline rush I got while dancing was always a thrill! Though I did not dance much through high school and college, I knew I would eventually get back into it.

I have been teaching private group fitness classes for kids and adults since then, offering classes online and in-person (parks, studios, in schools, etc.).

I have had the privilege of organizing fundraisers and donating to several local and international organizations as well.

I am also proud to be on the BollyX Choreography Team and BollyX Community Mentorship Team.

Better health, toning, strength, energy, helping communities – and overall happiness and relaxation – this is what we achieve together as we dance and workout! It’s really a business of building long-lasting friendships and a healthy, happy community!

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

I quickly learnt that if I have to offer clients a fitness experience like no other, it will require more dedication, knowledge and an extra effort. To pivot in business meant giving clients what they were looking for, but also making it special and meaningful for them. Which is why the name ‘Tadka’ was born, which directly translates to giving an extra aroma or taste in any experience! Taking more fitness related courses kept me on my toes when trying to establish a stable clientele.
The idea of relating to adults and kids during certain festivals through music and dance grew stronger in my classes while making sure that the energy and vibrancy of the class is not compromised.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Word Of Mouth references. When you have a quality service to offer, people will find you! Some of my existing students have been with me for over 5 years now, they took the journey with me as I started my own business and stuck around through all my ups and downs – even when Covid hit, they showed up for every single class online! Post-covid, some students returned after nearly 3 years!

Though some phases of the business were very difficult, I continued with their love and support, and it was all worth it.
Friendships like these last forever, and I am always grateful to my students who spread the good word about my business.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tadka_dance/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tadkadance/

Image Credits
Photography by Brenda and Jabari Mehul Dave Photography