Today we’d like to introduce you to Yolanda Thomas.
Hi Yolanda, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
After teaching for over 15 years at the prestigious SYDNEY DANCE COMPANY Studios in Australia, I realized there was no class catering to adults who had never danced before.
Realistically, most Beginner dance classes require at least a year of training to keep up with the pace of learning the choreography quickly enough in class. I could see there needed to be a level BELOW a Beginner class and It needed to be exclusive to adults.
From this need, I created the first ADULT ABSOLUTE BEGINNER HIP-HOP CLASSES in Sydney and classes quickly sold out!
I was fascinated with how a student could be doing the same arms and legs as me and STILL look very different.
Students will never look the same as the teacher if the underlying Groove isn’t correct. From this, I created a system of 4 Fundamental Grooves that run through ALL Hip Hop dance styles. After all, my clients were those that just wanted to look cool on the dance floor.
I always promoted a successful mindset in class to overcome learning blocks that students would also take out into other areas of their lives. I loved watching those that initially struggled, gain confidence and even swagger.
I relocated to Los Angeles in 2013, but I still have extraordinary instructors continuing to teach my methods in Sydney where I run 8wk Courses.
In LA I finally broke through the competitive dance market here because what I offer is unique. It’s a completely different dance class experience. Since the Pandemic my private lessons with clients have dramatically increased. I offer lessons in Dance/Movement, Vocals & Performance Coaching for artists.
I started out working with unsigned artists and singers and branched out to work with record labels and management companies as a “One Stop Shop” Creative Director for stage shows and Music Videos. I still work out of Los Angeles but now also work globally via Zoom with International artists.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
When I relocated to LA I had to start from scratch and build my brand and reputation. I had come from sold-out classes in Sydney with 50 or 60 students per class to only 10 in LA. Breaking through the competition in LA was tough.
In the beginning, a big-time consumer was handling the administration of 2 countries. Once I set up automated booking systems online (during the pandemic) It has been easier to manage the admin, so I can now focus on the creative part of the work.
Other avenues of income I set up online during the pandemic were offering online instructional dance videos and setting up an online store for Groove Zone merch.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I run Hip Hop Dance classes for adults in Sydney and LA. My company GROOVE ZONE provides a friendly, supportive community with no judgment for the adult ABSOLUTE BEGINNER who has always wanted to learn to dance.
As a Performance Coach, I teach Dance & Choreography, Vocals & Stage Presence, and every aspect of performing live. I believe dance can be taught at any age and my motto has always been: “So you think you can’t dance? Bet I can teach you!”
I’m really in the business of inspiring and empowering people to find their true potential. My business provides a platform for students to face their fears and their limiting beliefs and come out the other side beaming and full of confidence that spreads into other areas of their life. When you do something you are scared to do, It gives you a major high! I love supporting students to get out of their “Comfort Zone” and into the ‘Groove Zone’!
Besides being a choreographer, I also have extensive experience in all fields of being a professional vocalist, so I can understand all the elements of adding movement to singing live. We can also talk about communicating and connecting with your audience, your sound guy, and other musicians.
By offering nurturing and constructive feedback on clients’ current abilities and helping them hone their craft to reach their personal goals, my aim is to help them achieve the best version of themselves! I’m in the business of creating STARS!
My motto for artists is: ”Make them fall in love with you -It’s so much more than technique!”
When people say to me “you look familiar” in Sydney, It’s usually because they have come to a dance class of mine at some point. I calculated once that I would’ve taught about 100,000 students in person! In LA I’m most known for being a singer on the Sunset Strip with the LA session musicians.
Personal achievements in dance are being asked by Wikihow to be a co-author as an expert in my field for their articles on Beginner Hip Hop Dance.
As a Vocalist, getting to sing backup vocals for Johnny Depp, Nuno Bettencourt, Steve Vai, and David Hasselhoff.
Also, sing with members of the bands; Hollywood Vampires, INXS, P!nk, Aerosmith, and Guns n Roses.
As a Performance Coach working with artists, I have two TV specials coming out soon, one for HBO.
When you are in the business of helping clients abandon their self-limiting beliefs and see the potential in themselves, you want to reach as many people as possible. I’m very thankful for my students and clients helping to spread the word through their 5-star gushing reviews on YELP and GOOGLE.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you.
I believe you create your own luck. In fact, I don’t use the word “lucky” instead I use the word “grateful”. It’s all perception. Something may appear to be bad luck, but if you believe the Universe is “conspiring to help you,” then you just wait and it’s usually revealed how that circumstance actually helped you. Thing’s I’m still waiting to see the benefit though… haha.
I made big leaps after I started working with Ant Ikan from IKAN ACHIEVE life/business coach. His guidance was invaluable, he is my own personal cheerleader. When my self-worth is high, then the opportunities come flooding in out of the blue. It looks like LUCK, but If you believe you are “worthy” of success you are likely to be successful. Ant encourages me to think ‘big’ and keep trying a different approach if something isn’t working.
Pricing:
- $18-$25 per dance class depending on the city
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.GrooveZoneLA.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/groove_zone
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/hiphopdancecourses
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/groove-zone-north-hollywood
- Other: https://linktr.ee/GrooveZone
