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ACT : So Terran , you have an impressive list of dancers who have trained with you at SubRoy Studios . Let ’ s talk about you and how this all started . Did you know at a young age that you wanted to dance ? TERRAN : It ' s really amazing . I ' ve always loved to dance . My parents enrolled me in ballet and tap at age 6 . By age 7 , my lack of natural flexibility lead me to quit . But that couldn ’ t stop me from dancing around the house in full costume . I enjoyed dancing with my peers . It was my road to popularity and the way I was most easily accepted .
ACT : When did you make the transition from dancer to performer to choreographer to business owner ? Take me on this journey from your perspective . TERRAN : I began choreographing officially at age 13 . I attended a small Catholic school in Memphis , Tennessee , where athletics were everything . There were a couple of out of state schools we played twice each year and one of them always made us look bad during halftime of the boy ’ s game . I mean bad ! They had better uniforms and were being coached by members of the National Champion University of Memphis dancers . I had enough ! So in the 8th grade , I took over the cheer team , began designing the uniforms , and choreographing the dances . I continued to coach the dance team for 3 years after I graduated .
The word somehow got around the city and schools reached out to hire me . Quickly I recognized there was something missing . My natural talent couldn ' t get us past 2nd place in competitions . Repeatedly ! My senior year in high school , I decided to audition for a local dance powerhouse and became a member of Memphis Elite All Stars . It was a highly competitive all-star program with strong ties to The University of Memphis . This was my training . I was always a Director first and danced only to become better . I continued to dance and train with The University of Memphis Dance Team , the Tennessee Oilers ( Titans ), Memphis Redbirds , and Memphis Grizzlies . All of these served as priceless marketing for me as a local choreographer . In 2005 , I founded Memphis Legend All Stars which became Yo ! Memphis Dance Company , which in 2007 , and settled as Subculture Royalty Dance Company . In 2009 , my work lead me to a position with the Memphis Grizzlies and afforded me the clientele to open SubRoy Dance Studios in 2012 . A journey well worth taking .
ACT : Who would you say was your biggest influence in getting started in dance and into the business of dance ? TERRAN : Honestly , at age 4 the TV Show Solid Gold solidified my passion . My mother said I would ask for " Rick James ' braids and dance around the house all day . My eureka moments of the business aspect of dance initially happened at dance conventions . I was operating off of shear love of the art form . But a fellow Grizzlies Dancer , Taurus Solomon , urged me to go to Monsters of Hip Hop in 2005 because Janet ' s choreographer was scheduled to be there scouting talent . By 2007 , I was taking Subculture Royalty , aka SubRoy , to the convention 3-5 times each year . We benefited a lot from that network ! The Atlanta professional dance community was booming around the same time . Atlanta is not far from Memphis and I was able to network there as well . What was happening in Atlanta motivated me tremendously . Still does .
ACT : How many dancers have you instructed ? TERRAN : I ' ve instructed literally hundreds of dancers . I ' m now on wave 2 , offering instructions to my students ’ children . It ' s glorious .
ACT : How many have you taught and mentored who have gone on to dance professionally ? TERRAN : Officially ten dancers I instructed have ' gone pro '.
ACT : Is there any one who you are most proud of ? TERRAN : I ' m most proud of them all ! There was never a question as to whether their talent was sufficient . I ' m most proud of them for their mental fortitude and determination to actually take the plunge . For every one that is now a professional , there was another one with the talent to do so , but just couldn ' t handle the pressure .
ACT : What has been the consistent advice that you have given them ? TERRAN : I tell my students this ... ' The directors have to choose from a plethora of dancers who all look the part and can dance the part . They eliminate based on so many other aspects . This is where your personality and presence comes in .
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