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Meet Shadae Randolph of Dynasty Dance Academy

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Shadae Randolph.

Shadae, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My name is Shadae and I am a born Leader and Boss! I am from San Antonio, TX but grew up partly in Los Lunas, New Mexico. My boss’s journey started at the age of nine, when I became aware of my ability to capture a room with my energy. Once aware of this, I knew I would grow up to be a boss and some sort of teacher or influencer. I have been addicted to using my energy to inspire and teach others in a positive way! By the time I was thirteen I knew I wanted to be an entertainer. I started dancing on my own and enjoyed it so much that I would force my brother Brodrick to get on the dance floor with me and dance to MC Hammer at family gatherings and parties.

Coming from a low-income family with five kids, we did not have money for me to study at a traditional dance studio, so I taught myself choreography from music videos. When I was a freshman in High School, I knew that I would inspire others through movement after watching my first performance ever; by the Taft High School High Stepper Dance Team. It was the most EPIC thing I had ever witnessed and much different than watching Janet Jackson and Jennifer Lopez on the TV in my living room. The High Stepper Dance Team filled the room with joy while expressing themselves through dance. That was it for me, I was already a dancer in my mind. At the end of the year, I tried out for the varsity dance team and yep, you guessed it, I made the team.

By the age of seventeen, I was so inspired to start my own dance classes that I started creating my own Hip-Hop and Jazz dance flyers and posting them in the neighborhoods, schools, and libraries. I have always had a hustler mentality and was not afraid to start pursuing my business goals at a young age. As the years went on, I kept dancing through High School. I earned several awards and achieved so much dance experience but more importantly, I added leadership and communication skills to my resume while attending my second-High School, Earl Warren in San Antonio, TX. I auditioned and made the Majestic Dance Team at Warren High School under the direction of Ms. Kincaid; I was able to really express myself freely through dance and leadership. Ms. Kincaid played a major role and changed my life, she was unlike any coach I had seen. Ms. Kincaid was patient, kind, young, fit, fun, and a woman of God.

Most importantly, Ms. Kincaid led by example, she didn’t just talk the talk she walked the walk. Ms. Kincaid would run the mile with the team, she would do the kick line with us, she would leap and turn with us, she was all in, and she had my full respect as a coach and as a person. The best thing Ms. Kincaid did for me allowed me to be ME and SHINE! On the Earl Warren Majestic Dance Team, I earned the position of Co-Captain and really excelled in this role. I graduated High School with a dance scholarship to McLennan Community College in Waco, TX. I chose this college because in 2004, they were one of the top dance teams in the state of Texas. I auditioned for the McLennan Dance Company in spring 2004, was accepted, offered a dance scholarship, and started there in the fall of 2004.

After one semester in Waco, I returned home to San Antonio because I became pregnant and could no longer be on the team. This was a hard time in my life, I was only 19, pregnant, and my dream of dancing seemed to be over. The pregnancy was rough, and I was sick most of the time. I got a job with my mom as her preschool assistant and I was determined to give this baby boy a good life. In the seventh month of my pregnancy, I felt like something was wrong, so I went to the doctor and the heartbeat was no longer there. I was completely devasted and heartbroken! I was going to name him Jayden, but he was gone. After delivery, I was able to hold him before he was taken away. We buried baby Jayden and I think a piece of me was buried with him that day. I was so young and just didn’t understand why this happened. After weeks of pure turmoil and weeping, I was ready to pull myself together. I decided to enroll at a local community college in San Antonio while I was deciding and planning what my next move would be.

After researching a few colleges that granted me financial aid, I settled on the University of North Texas in Denton, TX. I decided to audition for the dance team, and I made it! Hooray! I felt like I was BACK. Being apart of the North Texas Dance Team was so different than any team I had been apart of. This team felt very Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader and although that was appealing to me and I enjoyed it the coach had a different agenda for me. After making the team, the coach would pull me aside after rehearsal to take pictures of my body from the back, front, and side. These pictures where to show me how much weight I need to lose. She wanted me to look better in my GAME DAY uniform. I stayed on the team for the year, but this type of judgment started to weigh heavily on me as an individual and eventually changed my entire outlook on the North Texas Dancers at UNT. This type of criticism started to make me hate my body and I developed self-hate. I was running twice a day, starving myself, and it still wasn’t good enough for this coach. After doing a year on the team, I decided not to audition again as it would not be healthy for me mentally and emotionally.

I decided I was sick and tired of someone else judging me, so I took matters into my own hands and joined a small student lead team called Basic Rhythm. The next year I became president of Basic Rhythm and started booking events and shows for the team to perform at across the DFW. Being president of the Basic Rhythm, I was able to tap back into my leadership and boss skills that had been lying dormant since 2005. I did everything for this team from directing our spring shows, rehearsals, booking studio time, costumes, music, flyers, social media, and more. At this point, my end goal was to have my own dance studio after college.

While in college, I was a manager of an after-school program for Lewisville ISD in Texas. It was working for this after school program that I really had an epiphany. I would teach the kids to dance for fun in the gym after they completed homework and they loved it. I thought to myself after I graduate, I am going to start my own after school dance program! And I did! I graduated in 2011 from The University of North Texas with a BA in Applied Arts & Sciences. I am an avid Football girl and obsessive fan of the late Kobe Bryant! In sports, they use the word Dynasty when talking about the Greats like Emmitt Smith or Kobe Bryant. I thought that’s it! I want to create my very own Dynasty that I can pass down to my kids and be remembered for. The name of my company is Dynasty Dance Academy (DDA). I started this company in 2012 after having my first child, a baby girl, Sienna! After being knocked down by life so many times, having Sienna really gave me some sort of inner power that oozed out of me and propelled me to finally stop wasting time and really do what I REALLY want. Start my own business.

The goal of the Dynasty Dance Academy is to provide an affordable and convenient dance class to the community and elementary schools. As I said before, I came from a low-income family and was not exposed to dance classes or studio training so I wanted to offer classed to the kids that may not get that dance experience because mom or dad are working and can’t drive them to class or maybe they cannot afford it. Dance can be very expensive! This is how DDA was born, we are here to serve and share our passion for dance and we meet our kids where they are at. Dynasty Dance Academy started to take off after I accomplished my first big contract with Lewisville ISD to be their after-school dance provider in 2014. We offer a one-hour dance class once a week at the elementary schools in the fall and spring semesters.

Over the years, Dynasty Dance Academy has employed and trained dozens of employees, offered dance programs to over six recreation centers, 25 public and private schools, and several dance studios in the DFW. We have given our kids, ages 5-14 the opportunity to perform in parades, recitals, community festivals, fairs, schools, Dallas Mavs Games, and churches to name a few. Our goal at DDA is to build leadership, teamwork, and expression through dance training and performances. Here at DDA, we have age appropriate curriculums, high energy and supportive classes, nurturing and passionate coaches, and performance opportunities. DDA believes in 100% student participation because every student has a voice. Today we are excited to be opening our first home DDA STUDIO location in Flower Mound, TX. We will be opening in 2021. Our mission is Dynasty Dance Academy this is more than DANCE here, Leaders are made.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has not been a smooth road but anything worth having will not come easy, it doesn’t matter who you are! I listed most of my obstacles in response to the first question. Feel free to use the struggles and obstacles I listed there.

My main mental and spiritual hurdle today is dealing with the death of my 19-year-old sister. She died from epilepsy on June 30, 2019. Her death has stopped me in my tracks, but I feel like I am slowly moving forward. Her name was Shamora and she inspires me every day to keep grinding and shining. Shamora is beside me every step I take. RIP baby sister.

Dynasty Dance Academy – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Dynasty Dance Academy specializes in affordable and convenient dance classes in the community. DDA is known for its fun routines, performances, recitals, and instilling confidence and leadership in our dancers and coaches.

What sets us apart from other dance schools is the DDA after-school dance programs offered across the DFW. DDA offers quality dance classes, we meet our dancers where they are at, and we customize our dance programs for the needs of the community and schools that we serve.

I am most proud of the impact that we have on our dancers and coaches. Watching a timid and unsure dancer grow into a confident leader is what I am most proud of. Watching a DDA coach teach their first dance class under our curriculum and seeing them go off and start their own dance companies warms my heart because I know DDA played a role in their journey. I am most proud that through Dynasty Dance Academy, our students and coaches create their own voice and they learn how to use it. We are more than Dance, here Leaders are made.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I defined success as free time and serving others! In my opinion, having all the money in the world with no time to enjoy it or your family is a horrible way to live. Success is the ability to share your passion with others, manage your own time while maintaining a wealthy and healthy life. That is my definition of success.

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