Rising Stars: Meet Tondalaya Pearson of Cary

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tondalaya Pearson.

Hi Tondalaya, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Tondalaya’s study of dance began at the age of three. Her professional training began at the age of thirteen in the ballet program at the NC School of the Arts (NCSA). She studied from dance legends, Melissa Hayden, Mel Tomlinson, Frank Smith, and others. Tondalaya also enjoys Musical Theater. Her credits include “Oklahoma,” “Anything Goes,” “West Side Story,” “Hello Dolly,” and Raleigh’s “A Christmas Carol.” Tondalaya studied at East Carolina University on a scholarship in the dance program. From there she began to teach in local schools until she opened Cary Dance Productions in 1995. Tondalaya continues to study through national workshops affiliated with NYCDA, Tremaine, WCDE, and JUMP, to name a few. Next to her children, Peyton and Monroe, she considers CDP to be one of her greatest blessings.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has been a smooth road in that the studio (including my staff, students, and dance families) has provided me much happiness, but as with anything in life there have been bumps and forks along the way. I know I’m not alone sharing that 2020 was a difficult year for small businesses. I am still blown away by our ability to shift to a virtual platform and continue to keep students engaged and dancing from afar.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Cary Dance Productions is a very special place because it is filled with very special people. Our instructors are brilliantly creative, exceptionally loving, and committed to continue their own study of child development, teaching, and the art of dance. Many of us have worked together for more than 10 years. Our shared values and experiences allow us to work seamlessly as a team to support our students. Not only are we dedicated to growing strong dancers, we are uniquely invested in this opportunity to help raise confident, brave, and loving people.

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Oh, so many lessons! Many of them being an amplified version of what we already know:
We are so much more resilient than we think, the power of physical expression is immeasurable, the value of being seen and supported by others, how to use Zoom… we could go on forever 🙂

Contact Info:

• Website: https://carydance.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carydance/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carydanceproductions