About Me
Choreographer Tanisha Scott is doing big things in the entertainment world.Tanisha ScottWith dance moves that remain the hottest commodity around, choreographer Tanisha Scott has been blazing trails, and bringing Jamaican dances to the forefront of the world.While many may not recognise her name, most have seen her in all the hypest music videos such as Sean Paul's We be Burning, and I'm Still In Love With You, Ludacris' Money Maker, Ne-Yo's Stay and countless others.Born in Toronto, Canada to Jamaican parents, Scott has kept her Jamaican link close to her heart visiting yearly as much as possible.She exploded on the dance scene with Sean Paul's Gimme Di Light video. It was Scott's first time meeting the then striving DJ and her first time choreographing as well."My friend Little X, the director, called me and asked to choreograph it. I was nervous and scared but it worked out. I built my reputation wid Sean, he loved my energy, after that I did all his videos. People saw the video and saw my work, that's how I expanded in the business" she said.With a vivacious personality, energy and an natural skill at dancing Scott has expanded to work with the Caribbean and United States' biggest artistes such as Beyonc?, Jay-Z, Mary J Blidge, the late Aaliyah, Craig David, Ne-Yo, Mya, Fabulous, Kevin Lyttle, Rupee, Elephant Man, Tami Chynn, Shaggy and many others she was never professionally trained, dancing was something she had always wanted to do."From when I was born, I used to tell my mom I wanted to be a belly dancer. I joined a dance troupe in university. I was never professionally trained. I used to dance at this club back home," she said while laughing.While some have credited Scott with 'bussing' Sean Paul, since it was the Gimme Di Light video that really drew attention to him as an artiste, she says it was just the right time for them both.She says, "Jamaican dance is a hundred per cent energy, it represents what Jamaica is, the whole Bob Marley One Love free spirit. Anyone can do dancehall, the steps are easy but its the vibe that really carries it off. Everyone from Africa to Japan, Europe are seeing the moves and want to do them. Look at Dutty Wine, everyone from men, to women, children, even my grandmother wants to do it. Its a great phenomenon and a girls dance. Finally the girls have something for them, I rate the Attitude Girls."Scott just finished co-choreographing the movie Bring It On: All Or Nothing, the fourth movie in the Bring It On series. She also choreographed and starred in How She Moved to be released next year. Scott plays a role not far off her person: a Jamaican girl who moves to Canada and becomes a dancer at her high school.Despite all her achievements, Scott remembers the moment that inspired her to never stop dancing.According to Scott, on a visit to Jamaica, dancehall's most famous dancer Bogle came up to her and praised her work. "He told me how I had helped bring dancehall to the forefront, how proud he was of me. That's the greatest thing, no matter what I'm gonna keep opening doors for Jamaican dancers. I want to see a dancehall movement, make a mark. Where you have jazz and tap as dance forms that are studied, I want to bring dancehall to that level, where it is respected and taught, its a culture. Its not about Tanisha but about Jamaica and dancehall" she said.
ME IN THE YELLOW
"I have a secondary role in an upcoming movie role 'Step' an independent Canadian production, where I am the best friend of the villain. I play a girl who just moved to Canada and started going to school, and that's pretty close to my real life, so it was good. I recently did a Sean Paul video for 'Give It Up To Me' for the 'Step Up' movie soundtrack, Tanisha Scott, the noted choreographer told YardFlex.Com while hanging out at the Cooyah XL party over the weekend.She added, "I did a tour with Mariah Carey as well, but Sean is the main priority right now, at the end of the month, we are going to Europe, so things are happening,"
Tanisha Scott: Making MovesInterview by Kiki EssIn the industry she's Tanisha Scott. To family and friends, she's Tisha. Whatever you want to call her, at all times she's a dancer.And not that 'make ya booty clap in a g string' type, getting all dizzy around a pole for a couple of dollars, either. It's a straight dancehall ting.Remember that song with Sean Paul and Sasha, "I'm Still in Love with You"? How about the chick in the striped shorts with the wickedest wine in the video? That was Tisha. She's also the dancer with the curly hair featured in the video for Ne-yo's "Stay".This girl has got to be most seen dancer that you never hear about. See, Tanisha doesn't like the spotlight, except when lighting up everyone's screen with signature yaardie moves. And she likes to describe herself as "regular".Well, sorry to break it to her, but there is nothing "regular" about that level of talent; and it's high time the word got out.Born to Jamaican parents and raised in Toronto, Tanisha is currently Sean Paul's choreographer. So when she's not dancing in one of his videos or on stage during a concert, you can be fairly certain that she's behind much of what you see.But before Sean Paul, there were Redman, Amerie, Shaggy, Beenie Man, Nas, Ciara, and the list goes on.She started dancing as part of a dance troupe called DoDat in college, after a member saw her dancing on the way to class. As luck should have, DoDat ended up opening for one of Mya's shows. Tanisha caught the attention of Mya's choreographer, Showtime. And the rest is history.However, the way up has definitely had its rough spots. "A lot of it is just people can't differentiate between a video girl and a dancer," said the choreographer. "Looks are so much more important when it comes to dancing than it is to actually dance." She spoke of having to wear a hat because she wasn't viewed as good-looking enough or light enough. But she stuck it out. "I was like, 'I don't care; you can't tell me I can't dance. If you don't want to see me, you don't have to see my face, but watch what my body's doing.' And that's actually what got me further," said the dancer, "But I'm trying to help change the game."Putting her love for dance above all else, Tanisha also had much to say on the topic of Karrine Steffan, the author of "Confessions of a Video Vixen". "You have a choice." Said Tanisha.Never has she been on a set and felt that she had to do something that she didn't want to do. In fact, she said that videos have been a great experience and have gotten her to where she is now. "I know [Karrine] feels different…but I disagree with a lot of what she's saying. That's her experience, but that's not mine; and it's not everyone else's."Her advice to aspiring dancers and choreographers: "Wherever you are…dance. You don't know who's around or who's watching." Also, "Dance from your heart and don't just sell out for anything. There's always a right way. And when you do it the right way there's so much more longevity."At present, Tanisha hopes to be an inspiration for others. "I want to choreograph more and I just want to help give people the opportunity to dance." She's able to do this with the help of Sybarite Productions in New York. When in the area, she links with Sybarite head Dinna Alexanyan and holds affordable workshops for dancers."If I were to die tomorrow, I'd be happy. I've lived my dream and that was to dance on stage. Choreographing is my outlet to help bring people in to help people live their dream."On the professional scene, she just finished a Ying Yang Twins and Wyclef video. She also did the choreography for Ludacris's "Money Maker".What's next for the rising star? Well, she doesn't quite know. She may have something lined up for next week, but as she tells it, "dancers are always the last ones to find out about anything."But we'll keep you up to date as best we can.
Dancing, easy! - Turn the music on, find the rhythm and get started...?Right, If only it were that simple! Although for Choreographer/Dancer Tanisha "Tisha" Scott it's as second nature as walking. With all the latest dance crazes from Spanish Salsa to Dancehall Rub a Dub, how do you look and stay hip without dislocating yours? Artists such as Sean Paul, Shaggy, Beenie Man, Nas, Mya, Ciara, & Amerie have all required assistance from Tisha to provide the necessary footwork for their stage and screen performances. Having choreographed and danced in countless heavy rotation videos and world tours Tisha is quickly making a name for herself similar to dance luminaries like Debbie Allen, Paula Abdul, and Fatima Robinson. Tisha's choreography has provided stylized dance routines for videos such as, Sean Paul's "We Be Burnin" and "Gimme The Light", Nas' 30's inspired "Bridging The Gap" and Rah Digga's "Party & Bullshit". Most recently Tisha has been featured in Def Jam artist Neyo's "Stay With Me" video and she was also profiled in BET's "Who I Am" commercials.At any point of the day you can tune into MTV or BET and see Tisha as a lead dancer in videos like Amerie's "One Thing" and Ciara's "Oh" video. How does she keep up with the non-stop pace of creating, teaching, practicing, performing, touring and being one of the best choreographer/dancers around - for Tisha it as simple easy as 1,2,3, step!
