Meet Tammy Laframboise | Owner/Operator at Dance with Miss Tammy

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tammy Laframboise and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tammy, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I had reached a point in my career where I was craving the opportunity to expand and do more within the world of dance. I knew that staying where I was wasn’t going to get me where I wanted to be. and I saw a pathway to that place through starting my own business. A chance to use my experience and expertise to build a multifaceted brand dedicated to dance education and entertainment. And a chance to prolong my career in the industry by thinking outside the box! In truth, the pandemic was a huge catalyst for me to change my thinking about how the industry “worked.” Learning first hand that inside a classroom inside a dance studio wasn’t the only place I could affect people’s lives. But instead, anywhere I was, someone’s living room, a garage, a backyard patio, a computer screen, there was opportunity for me to pass on my gift to the next generation of dancers! Once I realized that, there was no turning back. So with my stellar support system in tow, I took the leap!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I think what sets me apart from others in my field is that I have the desire and ability to work with dancers of every age and every level. and in a wide variety of dance styles. Plus I’m passionate about teaching dance through many different mediums.. I currently have students on my roster from 2 to 72 years old, learning everything from finding the beat to professional dance technique. I don’t stop at teaching dance in a classroom setting, but strive to give my clients many ways to discover, train, and fall in love with dance. From the little ones using imagination and play while dancing with one of my follow along programs or reading one of my dance based children books, to older more serious dancers improving specific skills with one of my challenge programs or training their bodies with one of my dance fitness programs, to couples young and old connecting through dance while learning to twirl their partner in the living room or commissioning my tailored dance choreography to perform at their wedding or special event!

I’m most excited about being able to set myself up for a lifetime of dance and dance related business. We all know that dance is an extremely physical activity and therefore it’s not realistic to think I can continue to use my body in this very demanding way forever! So having found a path to channel my love of dance into building a business with longevity is a really big deal. I don’t have to think about a career transition, like what am I going to do with my life when I can’t dance anymore? Because I’ve built this thing that will take me through all the stages of my life!

How did I get to where I am today professionally?… Well I think a big part of that is that I’m always a student. I never stop learning and never underestimate where my education could come from. I have over 25 years of experience in teaching dance but that doesn’t mean I can’t learn something from someone with only 2 years of experience. I try to watch and learn from as many people as possible because I believe that there is always improvement to be made. Whether that is in regards to my students and their skills, or me and mine.

It was definitely not an easy road, There were many challenges along the way. The biggest of which was probably getting past my own insecurities and having enough confidence in myself and my abilities to know I could do this on my own. That although I didn’t have all of the tools in terms of a proper business education. I did have a wealth of knowledge in my field that many people would want access to. A good friend said to me “it’s not about your resources, it’s about your resourcefulness.” And that really struck me. I knew there were people in my life I could turn to to help me learn the business side of things so I would be better equip to provide my expertise on the artistic side. So I reached out to those people, who were of course. more than willing to help me learn what I was lacking. I still have a long way to go in mastering the business side of things, but with the “resources” I have in my life, there’s no doubt, I got this!

I’ve learned that having faith in yourself is the biggest step toward achieving your goals. And that many minds are better than one. So if you are open and willing to ask for help, your chances of success increase infinitely.

Me and my brand story…. I’m a professionally trained dancer offering 1-on-1 or exclusive group classes with personalized lesson plans tailored to your specific needs, as well as providing additional tools to aid in your dance education and entertainment agenda. My primary goal is to give my students a sold dance education, but also to make sure they have fun in a pressure-free, judgement-free environment. I have trained many dancers that have gone on to have professional careers in the industry from tours with hip hop artists to world renowned ballet companies. So whether you’re looking to elevate the skills of a seasoned dancer, give.a solid foundation to a beginner, or even just want a fun way to get some exercise, dancing with me can help you achieve those goals. I teach ballet, hip hop, jazz, tap, contemporary, pointe and pre-pointe, leaps and turns, strength and flexibility, technique building, audition prep, couples dancing, country line dancing, dance fitness, wedding first dance choreography, and specialized commissioned choreography. I’m excited and grateful to share my knowledge of, and love for , this beautiful art form. Let’s dance together!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Oh my gosh! I recently celebrated my 20 year LA anniversary and wanted to do all my favorite LA things all in one day! Here’s what I did. Morning hike to the Hollywood sign, afternoon lunch at the Ivy in Beverly Hills with my favorite LA native, watched the sunset on the beach in Malibu, then got some boujee ice cream from Salt and Straw in Studio City and ate it whilst over looking the valley lights from atop Mullholland Drive. BEST DAY EVER!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Oh my, speaking of a stellar support system!. So many people have helped me throughout my dance journey, but I think most of all I would want to acknowledge my parents for seeing early on that dance was my gift, for always encouraging me to use that gift to build a life for myself, and to leave my print on the world while doing so. And also for paying for all those dance classes!

And of course my dance teachers Miss Nancy, Miss Cindy, and Miss Teresa for giving me the tools, cultivating my talent, believing in me, and guiding me on a path to turn this thing I love so much into something I get to do everyday as a career.

And lastly my amazing friends and family members who listened to all my struggles regarding feeling stuck where I was, to possibly seeing a path to my dreams, to deciding to follow that path, to finally seeing things come to fruition. All of their encouragement along the way was truly paramount to getting me to where I am today.

I am forever grateful.

Website: dancewithmisstammy.com

Instagram: miss.tammy22

Facebook: m1ss.tammy22

Yelp: Dance With Miss Tammy

Image Credits
Jazley Faith Photography