In 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.

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