Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiffany Theodore.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
My story begins with little 4 year Tiffany trying dance for the first time because her older sister was doing it. Ever since my first dance class, I was hooked! It got to a point where I had to choose between soccer and dance, and of course I chose dance. Growing up in Colorado, I was surrounded by nature and inspiration on the daily. My family of six, including myself, all followed their passions by balancing academics with our create endeavors. My dance training was dispersed amongst three different dance studios until I found my permanent home where I eventually graduated from called Michelle Latimer Dance Academy.
Now my life wasn’t nearly as smooth as it sounds because in 2011, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease (an autoimmune inflammatory bowel disease). Before this, I never once heard of it. My life felt like it came to a halt as I was admitted to the hospital for 21 days. Over the course of my stay, I had four blood transfusions, countless IV pokes, and a many experiments with medication to try to find something that worked. I eventually had to get a PICC line which was basically a larger version of an IV that went in my upper arm and exited closer to my heart. Through this, I was being fed rather than eating physical food that I couldn’t keep down. Never before did I imagine something like this would happen to me. My doctors told me I was so close to losing my colon and that it was a miracle quite honestly that I didn’t. Once we finally got a hold of it, I was sent home to recover and continue my new life with Crohn’s Disease, a disease with no cure (yet). I knew my life wouldn’t be the same after this. Getting back to dance was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to endure. I could barely move without getting dizzy, and I lost all my strength. Through the help of friends and family, I eventually regained my ability to dance and thank my lucky stars for the blessed life I’ve been given. I am now a senior in college about to finish school with a BFA in Dance Performance at Chapman University!
Even though I have to take nine pills a day and a shot in my leg every other week, I am living a happy and healthy life. Crohn’s is and will always be a part of me, but it has made me more grateful for life and influenced my dancing tremendously. I hope to be an advocate for others and show that you can overcome obstacles and still do what you love.
Please tell us about your art.
My art medium of choice is dance. It’s the way I choose to express myself and communicate/connect with others. I’m a different type of mover in which I would describe as quirky. My dancing stems from deep within my soul in a manner that is hard to explain, but that’s the purpose of my movement; it serves as the illustration for the explanation. For me, being a versatile dancer is one of my greatest strengths and also important to the craft itself. Why limit yourself to one style when you can keep growing and learning in others? Adapting to other movement expands your own vocabulary and fulfillment in dance. Another element of dance I love is improvising and finding my own voice. Many times, my dancing speaks for me. I like to find the nuances in music and translate the sounds into physicality. In dance, one of the most rewarding aspects is seeing how each individual interprets movement. I would describe my art as playful with the musicality, ranging in dynamics and shifts in tones. I typically like to have a prompt I can connect to because I am a storyteller. It makes my indulgence with dance that much greater if I can feel something not just physically, but also mentally and emotionally.
In terms of my artwork, I think people should know that everyone can do it. I believe dance is something that is and has been a foundation for communication and expression, as I said before. I hope that people feel inspired by dance in some form or another whether that be to dance themselves or a message that they received from a dance. I want people to know that dance is a career that many artists follow, and it gets discredited much of the time. I want others to understand the value of this craft and the importance of it in our society. Without it, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I believe too that creativity has many applications in life and serves a greater purpose than what is produced. The process is vital to the making of good, intellectual human beings, challenging oneself out of their comfort zone, and developing a sense of self. Dance teaches what can’t be taught.
Choosing a creative or artistic path comes with many financial challenges. Any advice for those struggling to focus on their artwork due to financial concerns?
Oh boy don’t we all love the struggle. I say live the life you want. The financial aspect to it will always be an issue, but if it’s your passion, it’s worth it. The greatest quality someone can have in an artistic lifestyle is to be relentless, no matter what. The fight will pay off in the end, even if it’s something small at first. The amount of times I’ve had people ask me if I had a plan B with my dance major and life career…too many. I suggest to find other things that interest you, related to your art or not. Seek all the opportunities to make money to support your art. Just never give up. Do everything you can to make your artwork your lifestyle. You don’t have to be making money off it to be considered successful. Find a way to integrate it into your life and career. I think the reason art has this financial fear attached to it is because we see many people giving up too early when faced with this challenge. What if you keep going? You never know what lies ahead in the future. Money can only bring you so much happiness, so find a balance. I feel as though many try to prove a point and try to solely make a living off of their art. There’s opportunity out there for everyone to make money in various ways, you just can’t be closed off to it. I think we need to accept that being an artist comes with many challenges, and that’s the life we signed up for!
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I am in the process of creating a website and YouTube channel, but until then, Instagram is probably the best way for people to see my work, stay connected with me, and support me. I crave involvement in new adventures, so feel free to reach out to me for projects or even just to talk about life!
Contact Info:
- Email: tiffany.a.theodore@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiffany_theodore/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tiffany.theodore.3
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqkHsoEnNl4&feature=youtu.be
Image Credit:
Azuki Umeda, Alissa Roseborough, Kira Bartoli, Lexi Theodore, Abby Carton
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