Kenyan dance choreographer Emily Wanjiku who is popularly known as Tee is resolute about her quest for change and impact in the industry. We had the opportunity to interview her and know more;
1. Hey hello how would you like to introduce yourself?
1.Heyy I’m Tee. Thanks for having me. My real name is Emily Wanjiku Ngunjiri and my stage name is Tiana..short form Tee.
I’m a journalist ,a dance choreographer and an actress.
I do poetry and singing as hobbies.
I’m 23 years old.
Studied at Mount Kenya University ,Thika.
2. When did you discover your passion for dance acting?
2.Since I was born I can say 😂😂i honestly think this is the hardest question for me to answer to anyone who asks.
I grew up knowing that I wanted to do this so I had it in me since I was very little..
I used to be featured in poems ,solo verses, and skits in our church. I also used to perform dances most Sundays also during church occasions and competitions.
3. Who are some of the people that inspired you?
3. I can’t really say there is someone I was looking up to ,but alot of Kenyan and other international artists who have nice music really inspired my dance for music and dancing follows as well.
I’ve always pushed myself to doing the things I liked..I’m a go getter so if I want to do something I make sure I do it .
4. Tell us how has your journey as a choreographer been so far?
4. I’ve always wanted to do something unique something authentic , something new so I really like to make new moves ,new choreos and new playlists …my journey has been fair I can say, it has its ups and downs but I can still say it’s been okay ..I’m still growing and aiming higher and higher and I believe I will reach where i pictured myself in the beginning..
5. What opportunities and challenges have you encountered so far?
5. The major challenges I have encountered is exploitation .
Sometimes you get a very good a very good gig and the event planner ends up not paying you so you end up working pro-bono.
6. What’s are your plans for your dance career and projects next year?
6. I have a lot of plans ,one being , bringing something new authentic and unique in the dance industry.
I don’t want to be swallowed by the Saga of trends and that’s why Im always making new choreographies. I wanna do it the way nobody has.
I have an ongoing project ,(The Dancepiration KE) it’s a dance academy/movement..
As we speak, festive dance classes are ongoing.
I’m taking bookings from Nairobi and Thika.
That’s the project that I have been working on and definitely I will be working on it even this coming year ,bringing it bigger and better.
7. What are your other interests and talents apart from dance?
7. Apart from dancing, I’m a talented actress, poet and a journalist.
I have done travelling theatre for the past 5 years since 2019. I joined Sky arts production then later joined Faraja arts production. Ive done plays as well.
As a poet I have recorded some few spoken words ,but only because I haven’t really majored in poetry as much as dancing .. but I will record more with time.
I have interest in journalism simply because that’s the career I chose and studied it at school, Mt Kenya University.
8. What art, music and dance projects are you involved with currently?
8. I haven’t been involving myself in so many projects at the moment because I’m working on one of my own(The Dancepiration KE)
9. How can you be reached on social media?
9. My handles are:
•Tianatee33 > tiktok
•Tianatee33> Instagram
•Tianatee > Facebook
•The Dancepiration KE > YouTube
•The Dancepiration 254official. > Facebook
10. What’s your parting shot?
10. My parting shot is,,MY PRICE IS BASED ON MY TALENT NOT YOUR BUDGET…
and to every creative out there. DONT TRY TO FIT IN ,WHILE YOU WERE BORN TO STAND OUT!! BE YOU,DO YOU AND TRUST THE PROCESS.
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