Tania King has opened her new studio, Dance With Us, for adults. Photo: Shri Gayathirie Rajen.
Wagga dance virtuoso Tania King choreographed a life of joy among a string of challenges and now shares her message of hope and resilience through her dance school.
After running dance and Zumba classes out of the Lake Albert Community Hall for nearly five years, Tania has opened a new studio for adults in the heart of Wagga called Dance With Us.
“We have created wonderful dance classes,” Tania said. “At this stage, our youngest student is 19, and our oldest is 72.
“We teach Zumba, jazz and musical theatre … and we keep getting new enrolments every week.”
Originally from Sydney, Tania began dancing as a toddler and eventually made it a career, dancing professionally, running a successful studio for two decades and spending time in China.
When life got tough, Tania said that dance became a lifeline that helped her move forward.
The choreographer moved to Wagga in 2017 when her father became ill and she has battled cancer three times in the past seven years.
Despite numerous surgeries, rounds of radiation and a damaged leg, Tania has kept her feet moving.
“Dancing and Zumba kept my spirit alive,” Tania said.
“It’s a joy … and the love of my life. I can’t even imagine having a day when I can’t dance.
“When my surgeon asked me, ‘Tania, how do you dance?’ I said, ‘If I can’t dance, I’ll just have to stop’, and I danced in front of him in his surgery!”
Tania with some of her students. Photo: Shri Gayathirie Rajen.
Soon after moving to Wagga, Tania started giving lessons in the Lake Albert Community Hall to a handful of enthusiastic locals. She now has more than 60 students attending her studio.
“Wagga is home for me now and I’m quite happy here.”
Dance With Us has one motto – ‘Yes, you can’ and, unlike many dance studios in the regions, they cater exclusively to adults.
“We purely dance for enjoyment, and there’s no competition,” Tania said.
“It’s very inclusive. I have adults with special needs who come to Zumba class, and they enjoy that very much.”
Tania King and her dance instructor, Emily Bramich. Photo: Shri Gayathirie Rajen.
The 57-year-old enjoys working with middle-aged and senior dancers who feel the need to keep moving while fellow instructor Emily Bramich works with the younger students and teaches ‘Zumba Gold’ for people recovering from injuries and knee or hip replacements.
“If you don’t use it, you lose it,” Tania said.
“I love I can bring more adults to the joy of dance.”
To learn more about Tania and her dance studio, visit Dance With Us or Zumba With Tania.
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