新加坡六合彩开奖

Isaiah Rashaad

Choreographer gets down to Business

Business student seeks to share love of dance, artist development.

Isaiah Rashaad is not your typical college student.

The 32-year-old Algona/Pacific resident has already traveled the world as a professional dancer to work with famous celebrities, such as Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Chris Brown, Kelly Rowland, Todrick Hall and Jane, the Chinese international phenomena. He鈥檚 even featured on the 2019 Just Dance video game cover and has worked with the Shanghai-based company doing motion capture work since 2017. Companies, such as Nike, Adidas, Porsche and Ed Hardy, also make an appearance on his resume.

So why did Isaiah find himself stepping into his first college classes this fall?

He says it鈥檚 time to give back.

鈥淚 really understood the power of dance in being able to go to Asia,鈥� he said. 鈥淧eople who have a completely different lifestyle and language, but we鈥檙e able to connect through dance. I can step one way and you can learn to step the same way 鈥� and to realize the power of that and to know I can help people connect with the music 鈥� it鈥檚 so impactful for me.鈥�

Isaiah is currently pursuing his Small Business/Entrepreneurship Certificate so that he can one day open his own business, which would offer dance instruction and artist development training for both dancers and singers.

The Tyee High School graduate said, growing up, he wasn鈥檛 always supported when it came to pursuing his love of dance. One parent, in particular, tried to steer him away to other activities, such as karate, which he ended up doing for eight years as a child. But he soon found his way back after one of his karate senseis saw him dancing to “Uh Huh” by B2K at their annual talent show and recommended he join Westlake Dance Center.

With his passion for dance renewed, Isaiah and a friend from Chinook Middle School performed a Michael Jackson dance routine at the school’s talent show and, when he got to high school, he and his friends started a dance team by the name of Point Blank.

鈥淲e started going to professional dance conventions and eventually we went to LA and trained,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd it grew from there.鈥�

But, looking back, Isaiah said he could have benefited from the very business he hopes to grow one day.

鈥淚 want people geared up for what I wasn鈥檛 ready for,鈥� Isaiah said. 鈥淪o, when they go to LA, they already have their package, they already have their experience and they鈥檙e ready to go. Because when I went to LA, I didn鈥檛 know about a dance resume, I was just going off what I thought in the moment.鈥�

Isaiah said his business would help dancers cultivate their artistry and give them inside tips and tricks for success. Learning about landing an agent, deciding on a market, picking up backup dancer skills and learning how to be aware of camera angles are all services that would be offered. For singers or other artists, he would teach them how to hold a microphone, hand coordination and how to pitch to a record company, styling and media training, among other skills.

鈥淧eople who want to be singers are 鈥撯�� it鈥檚 the way the times are now 鈥撯�� they鈥檙e Instagram famous and they go straight directly into things but they鈥檙e not cultivated as an artist, so they rise really fast and they crash,鈥� Isaiah said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 no substance to their artistry other than they got hits on Instagram and now they don鈥檛 know what to do.鈥�

But Isaiah鈥檚 business won鈥檛 just focus on people who want to be in showbiz. He said he鈥檚 actually had some of the most fulfilling moments by teaching dance to those simply looking to move their body.

He recalled an 8-year-old boy who took a 鈥渉eel intensive鈥� class, which teaches students how to dance in heels.

鈥淏oth his mom and dad were giving him heels and pushing him in class,鈥� Isaiah said. 鈥淪omebody not being afraid of being creative is something that helps me to overcome myself because I鈥檓 like, 鈥極K, there鈥檚 a bigger purpose than just me.鈥� So I鈥檇 love to do more things like that.鈥�

Although Isaiah has a few more quarters before he graduates from 新加坡六合彩开奖with his Small Business/Entrepreneurship Certificate, he says he鈥檚 already learned so much in the classes he鈥檚 taking. Not only that but he鈥檚 grateful for the many resources 新加坡六合彩开奖offers to students.

鈥淚 had a whole perception of what college was but, in coming here, I realized you can actually focus on whatever you want to focus on and take the classes geared toward that,鈥� he said.

When Isaiah isn鈥檛 planning his next venture or going to school, he鈥檚 teaching dance at four different local studios during the week and is active on social media, working on his brand.

To follow along on his journey, follow the hashtag #AdayWithZay and connect with him on , and at @Isaiahrashaad1.