Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Taron Harris. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Taron, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
Artistically I found my purpose five years ago when I started teaching dance and performing arts. I noticed that I could impact and inspire my students in ways that I hadn’t fully seen growing up, but the one thing that was instilled in me artistically was creating my path. I faced many challenges as a student in the arts being seen as the “underdog” due to lack of resources and consistency. My biggest challenge was never the obstacles that stood in my way because I could always find a way through them; my biggest challenge was myself. I was not always confident in my process as a performer and learner because I knew there were more ways to express myself artistically I hadn’t experienced just yet. There seemed to be limited options for success on that path because the specific pathways were encouraged to take like joining a local performance company or competing with thousands for one job. These can all be fulfilling pathways, but I learned early that it wasn’t the only professional path for someone who has an interest in performing arts which can be correlated in so many different ways within the stage, studio, or classroom. Eventually, I took all the things I learned over time and created curriculums and creative methods that are relatable to students who have multiple interests that weren’t just dance helping them find their unique artistic language through performing arts and creative movement.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am currently growing three different businesses under one umbrella brand which focuses on style, health, and artistry. First, is Wunderkind Dance which has been my biggest inspiration since teaching as I’ve had the opportunity to work with all age ranges from toddlers to seniors as well as create relatable and engaging curriculums using creative movement and dance composition. Encouraging dancers to find their dance language through technique, guided improvisation, and collaborative works while learning diverse dance styles. Then there’s my all-natural hemp cosmetic line called Hemp & Wunders which includes a Wunder Butter for moisture on skin and hair, Wunder Oil for hair growth, including a soothing skin relief balm and natural lip gloss. Finally, I had to create a business for my passion in fashion, and that mostly includes consignment and refurbished items that I love to curate for my Depop shop and Pop-Ups throughout Atlanta which is under my general umbrella brand Wunder Emporium. I know it may be a lot but it’s all definitely still needed and I’m excited to see the growth in each of them.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I’ve been blessed to learn and be open to so many different skills in my art form from the performance skills to the creative skills, and even the technical skills required to even bring those things to life on a stage. The three most impactful skills I’ve learned on my journey are first, dance composition because it honestly helped me get a better understanding of how to take one idea and rearrange it into many different movement phrases. The second would be theater because it taught me the importance of storytelling and using that in all my art forms even teaching. Third is learning diverse movement styles like ballroom dance which teaches the importance of dominant and submissive energy in movement, and traditional ethnic dances that are meant for honoring or celebration.
We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?
I do believe that it is important to nurture your gifts and your strengths, but you should never limit yourself to investing in only the things you’re good at. As an artist, most of my growth and talent have come from being well-rounded in multiple art forms, and knowing that it can enhance the uniqueness of who I am as an artist.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/wunderemporium?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=c5c96cc5-aef6-4f92-a53c-9e4f262f5d5c
- Instagram: @wunderkinddance @hempandwunders @wunderemporium @hyfr_itstaron
- Facebook: Wunderkind Dance / Hemp and Wunders
- SoundCloud: Say Sum Different Podcast
- Other: “Say Sum Different” podcast on all platforms
Image Credits
image 1&2 -Taron Harris image 3 – Hemp & Wunders product ad image 4 – Wunder Emporium’s first annual pop-up shop and clothing exchange
