Meet Toni (Ladyy Papa) Manar | Dance Choreographer & Instructor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Toni (Ladyy Papa) Manar and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Toni (Ladyy Papa), we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
One thing about MY industry (from my experience) that I know a lot of people don’t know and would have never guessed is that I have only been dancing for four years total and that, apparently, is. big problem in the dance community if you are also a teacher. There must have been a book of rules written that I never got my hands on. I have a brand and I teach a class so a lot of people would expect that I have been dancing all of my life but I really haven’t. Five years ago and all my life before that I could not survive a dance class so I never kept at it, I was constantly discouraged because I thought I just was too inexperienced to dance. Outsiders and beginners really don’t know that I was in their position four years ago and thats why I can relate to them one hundred percent. This is why I think I can teach them the best because I know the feeling of feeling less-than and the embarrassment that comes with not being able to keep up in a dance class. I know what I felt and what I needed back then in order to stay committed so I know what to give them In class to keep trying, I know how to motivate them. I remember exactly how it feels to walk into a dance class for the first time because I went through this so recently. The feeling is quite unforgettable to be honest.

What people may not be aware of, is the possibility that never goes away even if you don’t take a certain route or play by certain rules. They also need to know that just because it is dancing and entertainment, does not mean thet it is easy,

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a choreographer and an instructor. I teach heels classes in Atlanta and Rhode Island for now, until I am teaching all over the world. There are many things that set me apart from others! One of the top things being that I only have four years’ experience dancing. I went to school for Marine Biology and I did finish but I finished to make my family proud, I didn’t even know what job I wanted in the field but knew I could have any one. After graduating and still wanting to work behind the bar more than getting a job in my field I stumbled across someone who encouraged me to take a dance class in Chicago. It was this one class that was supposed to be a one time thing that inspired me to pursue dance , I didn’t do too well but I wanted to do well next time. I got advice on how to start from scratch, how to train, how to see improvement and end up proud of my dancing instead of a little embarrassed embarrassed . This is to say I was at the same ground zero that all people who have never taken a dance class find themselves at when they finally decide to try a dance class. Im different from others because my lack of a lifelong background of training and childhood memories in a dance studio result in me being able to understand a new student completely and able to know exactly what they need in class: the correct motivation and inspiration, the kind of teaching and the type of breakdown when learning and drilling in class to be comfortable and see it through. That is not to say people who have studied and practiced dance longer than me can’t figure this out but I don’t have to revisit second-hand knowledge or take pieces from other peoples stories and lessons to get this right, I can dig right into my own personal experience, passion and dreams when transferring a choreography that I made in my head to the next person willing to learn, no matter what their experience level is. My class is different because I was born to teach it. It didn’t start as a business meeting or proposition, it started with a pursuit of happiness; an invite of a couple people to the studio. I had dreams of doing it, sure, but it seemed farfetched. My class showed me what it could be before I even thought it could be anything, Another benefit of not having the long-term training in dance, I didn’t learn a lot of the harsh reality about the dance world so it wasn’t able to hinder me or tarnish my true love for the sport/hobby.. Only the shit that slapped me right in my face and was impossible for me to miss did. I chose my own journey and only learned what I wanted to learn about dance and for a while thats all I had to work with, When the harsh reality of the dance world started to show itself in my journey, I was already following my own curriculum of love, passion, execution, positivity and perseverance.

I am mostly proud of my progress. My real results. I literally couldn’t keep up in a dance class then, If I could or would get a video, I saw so many things that needed so much work. Then I am keeping up in dance class, I am getting videos and the things I saw needing work are starting to look much better. New and Improved, actually. Now Im teaching a class and people are signed up to attend. This number of people goes from “only a couple” to ” a whole lot”. My progress being positive and increased progress while being able to share it to inspire others is what I am the most proud of.

Hell no it wasn’t easy! None of it. Just being able to have the class and the footage was hard because no matter how much admission was paid at the door, the studio and the camera man had to be paid in full. Being consistent was hard. I was fighting my own insecurities through dance but whether I was winning the fight on the day class was scheduled I had to have class and deliver the same positive energy and experience because everyone is coming because thats what they need “today” or “this week”. Ignoring the insults and name calling that came with posting dance videos every week when you are not yet a great dancer was hard. Getting my parents to see the vision with this dance shit instead of that job I are supposed to have when I finished college was hard. Posting my videos even though they weren’t that good because I wanted people to see my journey was hard, Being accepted as a dancer when I started dancing and teaching at the same time because there wasn’t anywhere near me to train was hard also. I could go on and on, really, but I think you get the point.

I was able to overcome the challenges because I had to, there was no alternative. I felt like there was nothing else I wanted or even could do with my life. I only believed in one purpose, which is the purpose I am living now. The money situation was the one I fought the most and I did everything, work f0ur jobs, max out credit cards, drive for uber overnight In Boston, whatever I had to do to keep up. I ruined my credit knowing I would fix it one day, and I have. I think it all happened because I never gave up. The slow and gradual progress made it very hard to see I was even getting better with time but even when I didn’t think I was getting better, I still didn’t quit. When groups of people in Boston were messaging me telling me I shouldn’t be teaching a class and to just quit because my class is a slap in the face, I didn’t and that just might be the worst thing I have gone through so far.

The one lesson I have learned over and over is that the show must go on. You cannot wait for people to come around and be on your side. Keep going and let them catch up when they are ready.

I want people to know that my brand saved me. Living without a purpose was so hard and senseless to me I don’t know how I even did it for as long as I did. I felt like I was going to waste, just existing everyday. It taught me how to practice loving myself and teach it to other people. it helped fill a lot of voids, helped me build confidence, helped me find people I needed and it helped me know both, my worth and my strength. I want people to know my brand is a voice for those with dreams and their own idea of the life they want to live but no support, Its a lot of people’s way out of a life they don’t want; whether that’s a life at a job you don’t like or next to a person who is not right or on.a career path that is not one you are passionate about. I know by working on this brand I am inspiring people to believe in and start theirs. This brand is not just about dance.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I will honestly say that I don’t get out often so some will either agree with me or laugh at what I suggest !

I like to go to Docs because they’re open till four am everyday but also because they become a mixed crowd when everything closes

Soigne Garden

Boogalou

Juicy Crab

Char is a cute little bar

EDEN always has a great DJ when I go. I love to get hookah and dance there

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Mary Santana over Naked Foods in Rhode Island will forever be the person I don’t know I could have done this without. While my class was still a gathering and started to grow, the studio I was renting was charging me a lot of money and then finally proposed that my gathering that has not yet gone anywhere or been called anything or even have a logo be split legally and professionally between the two of us. When I declined because I wanted to make sure this was one, something at all and two, something I would want to share, she took the keys to the studio and said she’s out of town and cant give me a key because I didn’t sign the contract giving here part of what I was trying to create. Mary offered her studio to my mom while she was picking up a meal replacement smoothie. She said “We have plenty of open availability and she can have the whole studio for $25 an hour. No one still to this day would ever off a big studio for this price. When my class go to being 50 plus people every week the price didn’t change, she just wanted me to win. One day when I have a huge amount of money, I am going to do something for her brand just because I can.

Out here in Atlanta my shoutout is always to my favorite artist Bella Blaq;. As an actual person/mommy/mentor/friend she was the first person to genuinely want to help, advise, cuss me out and guide me for nothing in return. Still don’t know why she did this but thankful she did and that she is still there whenever I call. ❤️

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladyy_papa/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/toni.manar/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP34_17CG1624JBzGLCNRsQ