Meet Tony | Hip Hop Dancer of the Year | Best Collegiate Team Nominee
Meet Tony
Hip Hop Dancer of the Year | Best Collegiate Team Nominee
RVA dance awards
I began my dance career at the young age of 5 back in 1992. I was drawn in by tap dance but studied all genres of dance. I studied at The Gail Harts Dance and Performing Arts Company in my home town of Portsmouth, Va. I gained a great knowledge of dance with the GHDC from competitive dancing to concert style. I was also apart of my high school magnet dance program as well which helped lead me to college. I attended Virginia Commonwealth University were I worked with a phenomenal faculty and guest artist such as Robert Battle, Tania Issac, Jawole Willa Jo Zollar of the Urban Bush Women and many more. While in school I found a local hip hop dance company 4thestreetz Choreography and exercised my love for hip hop dance throughout my college career. After college I was awarded a full scholarship to attend the Deeply Rooted Summer Dance Program, a modern dance company in Chicago IL. (2008) where I later became an apprentice. I later returned to RVA (2009) and continued to perform and travel with the Starr Foster Dance Company (2010-2012) while starting my teaching career at Henrico High schools Center for the Arts program. This is where I found my passion for teaching /coaching and started teaching at local studios as well. Since my teaching journey began I’ve since worked with several local programs such as ARGS, artsPOWER, Mayors Youth Academy, Thomas Dale Specialty Center, Held a 3 year residency with Virginia State Universities dance program under the Physical Education department and much more. I am currently teaching at Chesterfield Dance Center and coaching Dance at Virginia Union University.
I’m so excited to be nominated not only for Best Hip Hop Choreographer, but Best College Dance Line as well (Virginia Union University) because this nomination was voted on by the dance community. That alone means the world, just to know the community is actually watching and respects and sees your hard work is an honor in itself.
Fun fact “As a child I played both football and soccer, my parents say I was always dancing on the field instead of paying attention to the game, I always finished what I started but they knew then what was in my heart”
