Home Modeling & Etiquette with Tanya Class Schedule Frequently Asked Questions Current Events What is Macumba? Who is Tanya?
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I was born in Durban, South Africa. Since a very young age, I enjoyed dressing up and posing in front of the camera while Mom snapped away capturing memories. I got involved in a modeling school in South Africa run by Bonita Boyle. The school was small but quickly mushroomed and eventually students who had gone through her training program, started their own modeling schools. She inspired a lot of competition, granting us awards at the end of the year to boost our confidence and help develop a love for the creativity that was allowed! Often we would model for various department stores which gave us a chance to promote the store's apparel, accessories, etc. What a sense of achievement that gave me! After moving away from my city of birth (Durban - approximately 300 miles) to a more metropolitan area (Johannesburg) with more scope, I decided to begin my own modeling business having achieved my certificate of completion. One of the reasons for me starting my own modeling school was to help develop confidence and growth in young students. My younger brother and sister had also gone through Bonita Boyle's School of Modeling & Deportment with me. It became clearly visible that my younger brother, who was pretty shy, had developed a new found confidence as he learned to pose and model on the catwalk. It was amazing to see the transformation in not only my sibling, but also in the many students in such a short space of time. |
Upon opening my school in Johannesburg, I began with approximately 8 students which quickly grew and more than doubled in a short period of time. The children and teenagers alike were eager to express themselves and venture into a new fun, and enjoyable interest!
In November 1995, I moved to the United States with my family where I decided to pursue a degree in fashion merchandising at the California Academy of Fashion Merchandising, Art & Design. I was the president of the Fashion Club and organized several fashion events for the college. This was a great networking opportunity which allowed for outside stores to become interested in what I was doing! These businesses still work with me in sponsoring some of the events I coordinate to this day.
Once I graduated, I began working with various stores, churches and non-profit organizations as a fashion show coordinator, assisting them in coordinating their various fashion show promotional & fundraising events. Because of my passion for fashion and modeling, I decided to begin teaching modeling classes once again through the Elk Grove Parks and Recreation Department. In December 2006 I handed my classes over to my sister since I got married and moved away. It's always good to 'keep it in the family' after all right?
My classes covered a wide variety of topics; from learning to develop self-confidence, table manners and etiquette, makeup and skincare, to runway modeling tips and techniques. After 4 years of growth within the Elk Grove area starting with 6 students and quickly mushrooming to approximately 20 students per 8 week session, I decided to open "Models NSync Modeling Training Facility" in Sacramento California. We opened in November 2005 and closed in November 2006.
In my 'spare time' I worked
independently as a Director and Spa & Image Consultant and gave women makeovers,
taught them how to relax, de-stress, and unwind while pampering them with an in
home/in office spa treatment. I started this business in 2004 and became
a Director in a matter of one year, earning myself and my family an all expenses
paid trip to Walt Disney world in Florida. In 2005 I completed my second year
of sales (a minimum had to be met each month) to earn myself an all expenses
paid company vehicle, and in February 2006 I took delivery of my 2006 Convertible
Mustang from the company. It was amazing to walk into a dealership - sign my
name and walk out with the keys!
I have also worked as a "Promotional Model" for various agencies in Sacramento
and surrounding areas. It all has been a super experience thus far! My other
involvement’s with the local Sacramento community was teaching children how to
develop their confidence. The children went through about 8-10 weeks of
training, after which they had the opportunity to participate in a fashion show
in front of fellow roommates, staff, friends and family. What a fun experience!
What a difference!
In February 2006, I was invited to New York to attend and participate in the annual Fashion Week event. It was an amazing opportunity working directly with fashion designers, well known makeup artists, etc. Everyone who was someone in the fashion industry was there, and the hair on my arms were standing straight up! I had chills! It was a blast working back stage with the Super Models! Not only was I there to assist, I was also invited to bring one of my modeling students with me. She was 15 at the time and had gone through a year of runway training with me. She and I were both very excited! This was such an achievement for us both! When we arrived at the event, my student was given the opportunity to walk the runway alongside the Super Models who were participating in that particular Fashion Week event! She looked AMAZING! The press loved her, people were asking who she was and where she came from, it was simply magical! We had a chance to mingle at all of the fashion events following the show and I felt like I was living in some sort of dream... well, both my student and I felt that way actually. I knew she had talent, and seeing her on that runway confirmed it! She was simply gorgeous! It was a very proud moment indeed and something I will never forget!
About ten years ago, I became a certified fitness instructor (I would never have thought I would be one) what an exciting and challenging new career to add to my passion with fashion! I decided to become an instructor after losing a great deal of weight, which I’d, gained over 6 years, due to my lack of self-control and love of food! Thank goodness I have learned when 'enough is enough' and love being able to encourage other people out there that 'yes you can do it too' - I'm a walking testimony!
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My certifications include: Macumba® Fitness, AFAA Primary Group Fitness Exercise Instructor, Step Aerobics, Hi Lo Impact Aerobics, Pilates, Pre-Natal Fitness, Mat Science I, Mat Science II, FiTour Personal Training, Zumba®, Zumba® Gold, Jeannie Fit Hip Hop U and Masala Bhangra® Workout. My fitness classes have always been a hit, no matter what format I've taught. From Afro Latino Funk to Hi Low Impact to Step Aerobics, I've never really had a problem filling a class. When I first started teaching Zumba® Fitness classes in 2005, I was Sacramento's first and only Zumba® instructor for about a year and a half. I started out with approximately 3 or 4 students, but class sizes increased rapidly to about 40-45 people per class in a short space of time. There were no other dance fitness type classes being offered in the area that I was aware of, and dance fitness is such a great workout, plus you burn double the calories you would in your typical cardio class. Since I'd taken the Zumba® training workshop, demands were coming in from all over Northern CA for more Zumba® classes. It then became a passion of mine to increase the number of instructors in Sacramento as I couldn't keep up with the demands and offers. At that point I was teaching 25 Zumba® classes a week! I then decided to help Zumba Corporate make Zumba® a well known fitness 'name' in Sacramento and assisted them with hosting three Zumba Instructor Workshops and certifying more than 165 new instructors. What a fun and rewarding 'job' at that time. I was hired by the WNBA to teach Zumba® Fitness for a week long health and fitness tour - what a blast! During this time I met and danced with Ruthie Bolton (former WNBA player who is amazing at basketball!), I also had an opportunity to teach Zumba® to the Sacramento Kings Royal Court Dancers, they were an absolute blast to dance with! So cute and really fantastic at what they do! On February 17th, 2007, I got married and moved to Florida. Life changed drastically and that was the most difficult decision I've ever had to make. I am very family oriented and leaving the only family I have here in the US was one of the most heart wrenching things I had to do. I struggled daily being torn away from those I held so near and dear to my heart. On March 3rd, 2008 I gave birth to our precious baby boy and life changed all over again. Motherhood is a whole new world, exciting and frightening all at the same time. I am absolutely in love with our new little blessing! He is of course adored by his family members worldwide too! In December 2008 I moved back to Elk Grove, California and am now the proud owner of "Dance 2D Rhythm" Studio in Elk Grove. I started out teaching Zumba® Fitness again in a children's play center as former students, instructors I mentored for a long time, and friends had bugged me each time I came back to California to teach a class. I had 2 people to begin with. In about 1 week we had 14 people, then the next week 25 and the next it just grew... I knew we had to find space to have a permanent home - a studio. I began searching and found a space (not ideal as it had no air conditioning) but just enough for us to be able to hold about 50 people. We stayed there for 5 months and then it was time to move again. The heat was unbearable as we approached the beginning of Summer near the end of June 09 even with 4 industrial fans!
One of my former students Sherree who became a Zumba instructor and took my place at Capital Athletic Club in Downtown Sacramento when I moved to Florida. |
Me on tour with the WNBA as a Zumba instructor. I got the opportunity to work with Ruthie Bolton which was amazing! Behind me are the Royal Court Dancers for the Sacramento Kings.
Sacramento Monarchs Mascot |
In July 2009 we moved to our new air conditioned home which was approximately 1300sq ft and it was simply beautiful! With floating wood floors, mirrors and an elegant setting, it was any dance studio owner's 'dream' location. We began to experience explosive growth all over again, and in a short space of time, we outgrew our space a third time. Given the state of the economy and the high retail rent, I was uncertain about a fourth move. We were in a beautiful, central Elk Grove location right off the highway and I knew I didn't want to move away from our new retail center. I gave it some thought, did some searching, and then an opportunity presented itself. In July 2010, we took possession of our 4400sq ft NEW, absolutely gorgeous, state of the art, dance & fitness studio right next door to our old space. It has two dance rooms with triple padded floating wood floors, one room is small enough for ballet, tap & jazz as well as Yoga, and the second is our main floor for bigger dance fitness and ballroom style classes. We have a beautiful reception area, a children's playroom, and three offices.
God has truly blessed me and I am so thankful for the way everything has fallen into place in time. Our Studio has a warm group of instructors and students alike. They truly enjoy being a part of the Studio and they are so supportive. I adore each and every one of them! People constantly tell us how they feel a sense of 'warmth' when they walk into our studio - this makes me so happy. Our studio truly is about our members, we have strived hard to make each person feel like they're 'family' versus being 'just a number' when they walk through our doors.
One of my most recent accomplishments was in July 2009 when I took the position of "International Master Trainer" and President of Macumba® Fitness USA. I am very excited about this new venture and look forward to seeing the growth of Macumba® Fitness both nationally and internationally. We are already experiencing explosive growth and it is VERY exciting!
In December 2010, I accepted the title of "ProTrainer aka Master Trainer with FITOUR®". This position is a new addition to my already exciting fitness career and I look forward to moving forward with it in Spring 2011. FITOUR® provides nationally recognized fitness certifications and CEC Workshops to Fitness Professionals across the globe. Since 1992, over 65 000 satisfied Fitness Professionals have become FITOUR® certified instructors through their certification and continuing education workshops. They provide high-quality, convenient and affordable certifications and continuing education that enables fitness professionals to lead their participants to improved health and wellness, fitness levels and quality of life.
I am grateful to both my Mom and Dad for being such an inspiration and encouragement in my life and because of them; I am what I am today! My parents have always stood by me, encouraged me to go for nothing but the best, accept nothing but the best, and have integrity in all that I do. For this I am eternally thankful!
I would encourage anyone with dreams and aspirations to: "Follow your heart and your dreams and give them every chance to become a reality!" "Don't let go of hope, hope gives you the strength to keep going when you feel like giving up. Don't ever quit believing in yourself; as long as you believe you can, you will have reason for trying!"
