Meet Tai Ryan White | Creative Director, Artistic Director and Choreographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tai Ryan White and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tai Ryan, putting aside the decision to work for yourself, what other decisions were critical to your success?
The single most important decision that has contributed to my success… Inner healing… In starting my journey anew, I realized that if I was going to start this business I had to remove the “I am not good enough” and “I can’t” from deep within my mind and heart. I just came to know that I would self sabotage my business if I didn’t allow myself to truly heal. I had to challenge what I thought healing looked like and embrace what it actually is. I had to rid myself of the victim inside. Even tho there was so much to “prove” to everyone, I realized that some people believed in me way more than I did! I could tell by their limitless support or even from their desire to keep me away from their clients.

I have to make sure that I know who I am at all times, so when thoughts like hopelessness and depression or desires like abandonment or quitting arise, I can reject them quickly. Especially because this healing journey wasn’t something I embarked upon before I stepped into business but while my business was still forming.

I put myself in a position of do or die, sail or quit. I’m still here so I must’ve done what I was supposed to. I know that my purpose is in the arts, not just for my own satisfaction but for the enhancing and spreading of love and excellence.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Well, in all transparency my journey has not been the easiest. if it weren’t for scholarships and benevolence I DEFINITELY would not be here today. I started my professional artistic career in dance later than a bunch of people. I always felt I was racing against the clock so I never took time to enjoy the victories. I cleaned, dance stores, houses, dance studios, worked jobs, taught free classes etc so I was very busy. Balancing dance training, College, full-time ministry and caring for relatives. There is so much more I could say but I am grateful for all of those hardships and many many more that helped shape and mold me into the man and artist I am today. There is a verse in the bible that says a good name is better than riches… I had a good name, that’s really what opened a lot of doors for me.

Soon after starting my professional training, I created, directed, produced choreographed, cast, performed in, set the light design, conceptualize costuming for, ran marketing and fund raised for my first dance theater production titled: “Shadows of the Mind.” I went to perform this production annually with encore performances and mini performances throughout Central Florida. It became so successful that my goal became to take it on a tour. My Grandfather, the late Philip D Zitowitz, was instructing me from his position in Japan as the director of drama at the University of Meiji, on how to expand the show and ‘where my audacious move to LA came in. 6 months after moving to LA I was told he committed suicide. That truly broke me and from there I went on a journey to find myself.

I (very angrily mind you) was talking to God (while in front of people) and I said “If you want me to stay in LA then you have to make it happen! Then my friend then steps in and says “well… ” then the rest is history! You of course are getting the edited version of the edited version because once we meet in person, you can ask me more yourself! I learned to always leave em wanting more… I practice transparency but everyone loves mystery hahaha… right?

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well, if I had a friend coming to see me know, I would tell them that we are staying inside and playing video games since we just getting out of a pandemic hahaha. That aside, I would take them to Downtown Burbank first. It is super beautiful and has views for days. The area has a unique blend of small businesses ad well as big businesses in operation so I feel like you really cant go wrong there. So many beautiful landscapes as well. I would also have to show them to Glendale! The galleria is gorgeous and the shops are dope. Not to mention the cheesecake factor is there so enough said. I would make sure to take them to the historic places that influenced my growth while since I moved here. The place in North Hollywood where Millennium Dance Complex used to be when the dome was around, the lot where Debbie Reynolds Dance Studios used to be on Hamlin off Lankershim BLVD among other places. Of course we would have to go to Hollywood BLVD. I would show them where the hologram show that I performed in was being shown, also where I was on the marquee for the Billie Holiday Hologram show. I might even take them to where IDA (International Dance Academy) once was before they closed too. Probably finish it off with a hike but I’d want to go to Big Bear or somewhere away from the city to get a piece view of real life on a mountain. Oh wait! I’d have to go down to Crenshaw BLVD and see Lula Washington and Debbie Allen Dance Academies! I am not a huge night life person but I wouldn’t mind taking a walk in the city to check out some night spots.

As you can see I am a workaholic! Someone save me! All I did was hypothetically take my friend to arts based things!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Honestly, God gets the first shot out. I thought I was done with the arts and then I heard whispered in my heart “dance for me.” I screamed “NO” in what felt like a psychotic episode… then I fell into obedience. Thank you Lord… To Cari Meier who said “If you don’t start taking class, I’m gonna kick your ass!” She meant it yall… To Suzanne Pomerantzeff (Ms.P) and The Academy of Ballet Arts, Thank you for actually kicking my butt and never allowing my to give up. Ms. P, you put your money where your mouth is as well and your credibility on the line just so that my first ever production could breathe life… I’ll never forget that! To all of my dance family in Florida, New York, Connecticut, Atlanta and now California- Thank you for your undying support! lastly to every form of resistance, thank you for being tools used by Christ to make me a stronger and more connected artist and human.

Website: https://tairyan.pb.online/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/tairyanofficial

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tairyanofficial/

Twitter: www.twitter.com/tairyanofficial

Facebook: www.facebook.com/tairyanofficial

Youtube: www.youtube.com/tairyanoffical

Other: on all social media platforms I am Tairyanofficial

Image Credits
The main picture is Bruno O’Hara @brunooharaphotography -also the african and the lime green shirt The picture of me in the Purple shirt is Diondre Jones @jonesnphoto The headshot with the blue leather jacket is Jeremy David @jeremydavidcreative