Today we’d like to introduce you to Tinako.
Hi Tinako, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Hello there, I am Tinako – a passionate female choreographer, creative director, educator, and entrepreneur.
Figuring out how all of this became my reality is still a bit of a mystery, but I always believed there was something more in me. It all slowly came together through a mix of thinking, understanding, hard work, and just giving things a shot.
CHILDHOOD:
Growing up, my personality was shaped by a strong woman – my mother. Although we were opposites, like water and fire, I knew she would do anything for me, providing a sense of safety and home. As a rebellious child, I resisted the circumstances I found myself in, questioning teachers and refusing to be confined to boxes. I felt a bit out of place like I had these passions and ideas that others thought were strange. In my head, I saw myself going after these dreams, challenging the rules society set for me. This questioning attitude extended to what everyone thought was normal. I noticed a lot of it was just people’s opinions, not necessarily facts. I was passionate about things others deemed unconventional. In my mind, I pictured myself achieving those passions, questioning the rules and beliefs imposed by society. This questioning spirit extended to societal norms and beliefs. I observed that much of what people believe is false, shaped by individual perspectives rather than natural truths. I spent significant time with aunties, mom’s friends, and grandmas, seeking wisdom from those who had lived longer. These experiences became a valuable source of my life lessons, guiding me in life on what not to do.
BUT HOW DID I GET INTO DANCE?
Growing up, my parents were always caught up in work, especially my mom, whose career was taking off just as I entered first grade. To keep me engaged, she enrolled me in a local dance school. I found myself in the midst of lively dance lessons. It was a fantastic school, and I owe so much to it. Thank you! Recently, I realized that the teaching style I use today is heavily influenced by my experiences and the training I received there. The lesson here: find good schools and teachers; they can shape your path in remarkable ways. Children’s education is everything.
Dance training and the circumstances of my life taught me to be self-sufficient and well-rounded. I navigated everywhere on my own, cooked my meals, did my hair, dressed for classes and shows, prepared and packed my costumes, and completed my homework – all independently. My mom wasn’t the type to sit with me for homework; it wasn’t the norm, but it worked for me.
In dance school, I vividly remember parents helping kids get ready before class or a show. I would return home and ask my mom, “I’m by myself, why aren’t you taking care of me?” (implying she didn’t love me). She’d always respond, “It will strengthen you, not weaken you. You’re a big girl; you’ve got this. You don’t need me to help you; don’t compare yourself to others.” She was raised that way as well, with a lot of kids in the family. Growing up in a farm, het parents had no luxury of time to pamper kids the way it’s often done today. Yet, she always stood up for me if someone spoke ill or tried to stifle my creative spirit with their beliefs. That’s why I take pride in handling things independently, never feeling lacking or allowing myself to complain. Complaining is useless; I learned early on that I’d rather go and do something about it.
Honestly, I never quite understood why people complain. I took pride in doing things on my own, never feeling the need for constant help. It wasn’t about becoming egotistic, but rather about embracing responsibility and demonstrating to adults that I could handle things on my own. I enjoyed doing things my way.
DANCE AND LIFE
Growing up in my small town until I turned 18, a feeling persisted within me – this place wasn’t where I belonged. I always knew I will need to leave eventually and that there is more in this world for me. I never felt “fulfilled” or “understood” there, and most of all not free, and freedom means everything to me. If I would stay there was no way to consider dance as a career, and I always thought about it as a hobby, cuz everyone thought like that, and it would take me a long time to find a place where it equally can become a career. At my town, being an artist was considered dumb, being creative is weird, and being yourself is impossible.
CHOREOGRAPHY AND PRODUCTION
Just now realized, while writing this story for this interview, that I started choreography and production even before I started to dance. I enjoyed bringing people together and choreographing stuff. I think I was like 5 or 6 years old when I put together a small show in our building for our older neighbours and all the parents. Wow! I never had time to even slow down and think about it.
Then I would put on shows for the local village cultural center where my grandma lived, and in regular school, dance school, and later in university. And again, I wish I was born in Hollywood and had mentors, but it’s a privilege to be born in the right place and to find the right people. But despite having nothing and no help from anyone, I still did make it, and I do live the life I want, and I praise it and want to do even more about it.
AFTER 18
What happened after 18? Did I made dance career happen? Did I get out of my town?
I did leave my town and never returned to live there again, but building a dance career took a bit more time.
At 18, I stumbled upon a student exchange program to go to the USA for the summer. Thankfully, my open-minded mom, despite the difficulty of letting her only child go so far away, supported and funded my trip. It marked my first escape to a world where I could shape things the way I wanted, where freedom of choice was a reality. This experience has stuck with me a constant reminder to value every day, not to waste it. I understand that it’s up to me and the choices I make to shape my destiny because opportunities were scarce for a long time.
FIGURING OUT WHAT’S REALLY MATTERS AND FINDING THE PURPOSE
After leaving my hometown, I embarked on a journey that took me to various corners of the world—living in the USA, Egypt, and Turkey. In these four years, I achieved what seemed like a dream: I left my birthplace, built my life independently, self-financed my university education, experienced diverse cultures, and met people from all walks of life. I became an example for many from my hometown. However, during this period, I made the decision to give up on dance. Influenced by the advice of adults and experienced individuals, I believed the narrative that there was no success or future in pursuing a career in dance.
With all the material success, freedom, and opportunities at my disposal, despite external perceptions of success, I began feeling a deep sense of disconnection. One day, the weight of it all became so overwhelming that I couldn’t muster the strength to get out of bed. I spent a good 4-5 hours lying there, tears streaming, struggling to rise. Yet, that day remains etched in my memory because it was the moment I realized the void—I missed movement, the energy exchange that comes with dance. I missed dance, and that revelation became crystal clear. I finally understood what I truly wanted to do.
Being a Taurus, you don’t need to tell me twice; since that day, I never gave up on dance. Despite the fear, doubts, and worrying about what people might think when I say I’m a dancer, I have myself to consider. It’s a choice between being unhappy, purposeless and knowing I can do more or embracing my passion. At 21, I had lost hope despite having everything one could dream of. But now, I don’t neglect it; it serves as a constant reminder. I have no other choice. This is it!
THAT’S WHAT I WAS BORN TO DO!
ROAD TO DANCE CAREER
Now understanding my purpose, I was determined to achieve it. It began in an unexpected place, not the typical career-building spot. I didn’t have many options, so I had to make my dreams happen with whatever I had. Since my “wake-up day,” I scoured the internet for dance opportunities because I had no contacts in the global dance industry. It was the only way to leverage my capabilities and find opportunities. Eventually, dance opportunities found me. Two friends from Dance College, true professionals, called me. They needed one more female dancer for their team to perform in China. Yes!
The universe had my back. I found myself back on stage, dancing and performing, adorned in dazzling costumes, and it became my full-time thing. WOW! Happiness overwhelmed me. It meant to be!
As a solid team, shortly after arriving in China (around nine months later), we landed a deal for the China Tour alongside numerous celebrities for the Hennessy Cognac promotion. This marked my breakthrough into the Chinese industry, giving me my first taste of working with real celebrities, managers, and more. From there, it skyrocketed – commercials, music videos, TV shows, stadium performances. An incredible journey that I’m truly grateful for.
After all these opportunities, I realized I wanted to become an advanced dancer and make a name for myself. To achieve this, I knew I needed to get even more serious about what I was doing. That’s when I made a crucial decision – to relocate to the capital, Beijing, the hub of the Chinese industry.
There, I began building my name and brand, crafting my unique style of dance, forming teams, and progressively delving into choreography. After a few years, dancers, teachers, and choreographers started recognizing me, knowing my name, and gradually respecting me for my creativity and personality, even though I wasn’t Chinese. This meant a lot to me.
FIRST TIME IN LIFE I FELT LIKE I BELONG!
Over these 5 years of building, I’ve established a name for myself. Increasingly, well-known artists, managers, and companies sought me out to choreograph, train their artists, and handle productions. It felt like a blessing, and I am genuinely grateful. I could never have believed that someone like me could be treated and respected in such a way; it took time to get used to. But ultimately, it’s not about that. It’s about how your hard work speaks for you, and your actions show people who you are, allowing them to recognize and understand your value.
For the first time in my life, I experienced the payoff of real focused and purposeful hard work. I learned how the right decisions lead to tangible results. It’s incredibly satisfying when you do what you love, get paid for it, and can buy all these material things without even overthinking them. My point is purpose will get you everything you want.
WHAT NOW?
Being constantly reminded of the fact that I’m not Chinese while living in Beijing, and disliking the confines of boxes, I decided it was time to move to the land of freedom. Because the freedom of a HUMAN BEING is just as crucial as the freedom to do what you love.
It means a lot to me. I wasn’t given freedom; I always demanded it, and I am committed to living my life freely.
Now in LA, I continue my work with Asia and Europe. Starting over again, just one luggage, zero contacts, but with a strong purpose:
BEING GOOD HUMAN BEING
IMPACT THROUGH DANCE
AND BE FREE
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Early in my career, the biggest challenge was pinpointing the ideal setting—a place where entertainment thrives at the highest level of innovation and quality. Traveling around, trying to figure out where to live and what to do, was like building a house without a solid plan. You’d land somewhere, start building, lay down the foundation, and then it was time to pack up and start from scratch all over again. It felt like a never-ending cycle.
As time rolled on, a big challenge popped up: deciding what specific aspect of dance entertainment to focus on. Should I go the pro route, dancing for different projects, artists, and companies? Or should I take a more independent path, working hard on building my name and honing my craft with laser focus, instead of just being a small part of bigger projects?
Nowadays, my main challenge is pushing myself to get better—to up my game, enhance my skills, and keep growing. It’s about constantly leveling up and, at the same time, appreciating the skills I already have.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a choreographer and stage director specializing in assembling dynamic teams, uniting individuals, and bringing out the best in them through creative moves, choreography, and staging.
My work is diverse—I engage with various groups of people. I work with young talents, teaching them the art of dance, fostering teamwork, guiding them through performances and competitions, and eventually helping them break into the industry. Another facet of my work involves collaborating with professional dancers, fellow choreographers, and directors in both TV and live stage settings, producing high-quality work. At times, I venture into uncharted territory, working with individuals who have never danced before, whether it’s on movie sets, TV shows, or other non-dance productions.
I’m recognized for my roles as a teacher, choreographer, and project director. What I hold dearest are the life experiences—overcoming challenges and savoring the small triumphs that come with hard work and accomplishments.
I resist the urge to measure myself against others because, truthfully, I don’t know. I’m committed to following my own path and pursuing my goals with unwavering focus, staying true to my unique journey.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I still consider myself more of an expert in the Asian industry. If you were to ask me about its trajectory, I could delve into various aspects, providing a detailed analysis of the trends and their underlying reasons.
On the flip side, when it comes to the American industry, especially in my areas of expertise—music artists, hip-hop culture, nurturing emerging singing talents, and integrating street culture into the mainstream—I observe a continual shift. The rise of social media and platforms like TikTok has reshaped the landscape, leading to a scarcity of artists who truly excel in dance or deliver full dance performances on stage.
Furthermore, with the growing influence of Web3, we are heading towards a future where virtual experiences will become more prevalent. This might prompt us to reimagine dance moves within the digital realm, focusing on choreography for visual avatars and virtual stages.
I anticipate this to be the primary shift in the near future. Beyond that, I’m eager to witness the emergence of more singing artists who can truly dance, mirroring the captivating style seen in Asian K-pop.
Contact Info:
- Website: tinakochoreography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinakochoreography/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinako-676a13b0/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNpXYOEcbsUCaB7zbYFStWQ
Image Credits
1. One of the rehearsals 2. On the set of Dance Movie “Step Up 6” 3. On the set of “Voice Of China” 4. On the set of “Sing China” Olympic Stadium Beijing 5. Teaching Class 6. Judging Dance competition 7. On the set with a couple we choreographed for at “Dancing with the Stars” 8. Red Carpet for “World Choreography Awards” Event
