The Let’s Talk Dance blog was created to empower dance professionals to create a better quality of life. This blog provides valuable and practical industry tips and business advice. My mission is to provide dancers, dance studio owners, and dance teachers with the best and most effective tools to grow your brand through social media, digital marketing, innovation, and positive thinking.
Gain the motivation, inspiration, knowledge, and skills that you need to create the dream dance career that you’ve always wanted! Feel free to post a comment or question anytime, and share this blog with fellow dancers!!
I work with dance studio owners, choreographers, dance companies, small businesses, corporations, & non-profits as a Social Media Strategist and Digital Marketing Specialist, to build campaigns that will increase your revenue, get you results, & catapult your brand to expert status in your niche! I have an extensive track record of creating and implementing successful social media strategies for my clients.
I am a Social Media Strategist, Digital Marketing Specialist, Blogger, Professional Dancer/Dance Teacher, and TV Host. I help fabulous and passionate people like you SHINE on social media, and in life! I create results-driven digital marketing strategies for small businesses, entrepreneurs, corporations, non-profits, and dance companies, that catapult them to expert status in their niche!
I’m the person you call when you want to make a big impact online through social media, but don’t know how to do it, don’t have the time to do it, or simply know that social media marketing is not one of your strengths. That’s where I come in!
Learn more about my social media consulting service HERE.
I am a native New Yorker, happily married, vegan, a new mom, and I LOVE dogs (especially pit bulls and rottweilers, after volunteering at an animal shelter for 3 years)!
But, in case you’re wondering how I got here, here’s my story…
How It All Began
When I started my first company, Kiner Enterprises Inc. back in 2007, I thought that I was creating a business that would take me into my later years of life. I always wanted to experience the lifestyle freedom and financial benefits that come with owning your own business, and I really believed that I found my niche. I also knew that, somewhere down the line, I would get married, and want to start a family. With that in mind, I wanted to build a business that would allow me to have a consistent, passive income, outside of dance, working from home, on my own schedule, and not just trading money for hours.
Although my company was very successful, I learned three really important things as a business owner, that lead me to close down the business sooner than I ever thought I would.
The Transition
1. Owning your own business is a 24/7 job, and is extremely demanding and stressful. I started my own business because I wanted financial freedom, and also freedom of time. I wanted to have the ability to work from home, or wherever, and create my own schedule. As it turns out, running your own small business, with hundreds of contractors, a project manager, staff, interns, etc., does not lend itself to a lifestyle of freedom of time or financial freedom, especially in the first five years. I soon realized that the stress and demands of running my business were more of a burden than a blessing to me, based on my evolving personal & professional goals.
2. I discovered my true passion along the way. The motivation behind the business was to empower dancers, and solve a problem that existed. I wanted to help dance teachers get jobs, and help dance studio owners find and hire great dance teachers. But really, at the end of the day, I just wanted to help people. I wanted to make their lives better, easier, and help them reach their personal and professional goals, which I did. However, I eventually realized that running my specific business, wasn’t the only way that I could do that.
3. I am REALLY passionate about social media marketing! When you start your own business, and you’re funding it yourself, you are the CEO, the Marketing Director, The Public Relations Manager, and every other person that is required to run your business. Along the way, I discovered that I had a true passion for creating marketing strategies, and specifically had a deep interest in using social media marketing to grow my business. I mean it was perfect! It was free (very important lol), and it had unlimited possibilities for reaching my target audience. I was hooked!
Once I started to experience significant growth and success for my own business through social media marketing, I felt compelled to share what I learned, and what was working for me, with others.
Fast Forward
After creating social media marketing strategies for several dance studio clients, as well as for my own tweetchat, radio show, and tv show, I decided that I was ready to shift and officially start working as a professional social media strategist and digital marketing specialist.
Now, a few years later, I’ve successfully created social media strategies for numerous companies and organizations including, The Joffrey Ballet School, Camille A. Brown and Dancers, Arizona Dance Artistry, and Shooting Stars School of Performing Arts, to name a few. I’m happily married with a beautiful baby girl, and living the lifestyle that I’d always hoped to be living at this stage of my life: working from home, on my own schedule. Working as a social media strategist and digital marketing specialist allows me to do work that I’m passionate about, be at home with my baby girl, help business owners and artists thrive online, and live a very exciting and fulfilling lifestyle.
I am still able to pursue my dance passions as well, whether through teaching Jazz classes at The Joffrey Ballet School, through my dance tv show, through writing, blogging, or performing. However, I don’t have all of that additional stress and pressure that comes with owning a business. I called my first business, my “baby”, but I’m happy to now be able to focus on my real baby!
It was a long and windy road to get to this place, and I never thought that Kiner Enterprises would be just a memory. But I’m so blessed to be here, and there’s so much more I plan to do in my journey of empowering dancers, and working with passionate small business owners, entrepreneurs, and artists like you!
The best part is that I get to have the freedom to be with my daughter, and experience all of her wonderful milestones. She is my top priority. Everything else is really icing on the cake!
LET’S WORK TOGETHER
If you are not one of those people who wakes up every day and reads blogs and books about social media marketing strategies and trends, spends hours every week on webinars to become more masterful at digital marketing, and manages numerous social media profiles, then you may need to hire me to do the “dirty work” for you.
See, I LOVE social media! Did I say, “LOVE”? I meant, I’m obsessed with it! That means I eat, sleep, and breathe this stuff. It’s not just work for me, it’s play too! I enjoy the constant changes and challenges, the trends, and the unlimited opportunities to grow a successful and profitable brand through social media. It gives me life!
That is the reason why I’m able to successfully help so many other brands grow and thrive online. It’s not tedious work for me, IT’S MY PASSION!! It is my desire and my purpose to help your brand SHINE on social media, stand out from your competitors, and become a business that makes money, and more importantly, makes a difference.
I’m bringing 7 years of experience working as an entrepreneur, business owner, social media marketing strategist, and digital marketing specialist, PLUS 25 years of working in the dance business. Throw in my background in television and radio, and you’ll start to see the wealth of knowledge and experience that I’m bringing to the table, and just how valuable that is for YOU!
You have to know your strengths, and know what you’re good at, and then be wise enough to outsource or delegate those important areas where you’re weak, or that you simply don’t enjoy. You can’t do it all, and you certainly can’t grow a successful brand, in today’s world of social media, all by yourself. You need help! When you hire an experienced, passionate, and knowledgeable social media and digital marketing professional to work with you, you are guaranteed significant results. It’s time for you to take your brand to the next level!
If this resonates with you, and you’d like to learn more about how you can work with me, feel free to visit my main website HERE, and contact me anytime!
Ashani Mfuko is a Social Media Strategist, Digital Marketing Specialist, Award-Winning Blogger, TV Host, and Professional Dancer. Ashani works with small businesses, corporations, entrepreneurs, artists, & non-profit organizations as a Social Media Strategist and Digital Marketing Specialist. She creates results-driven, innovative social media strategies that are proven to increase your revenue and catapult your brand to expert status in your niche! She has an extensive track record of creating and implementing successful social media strategies for her clients.
She is also the Host and Executive Producer of the “Inside New York City Dance” television show on MNN, and is a proud wife and new mom.
Ashani has been featured in Dance Magazine, as a “Media Maven”, as well as in Dance Mogul magazine, Inside Woman magazine, & Dance Studio Life magazine, in addition to various dance blogs online. She is the author and creator of the, “Finance Your Dance: How To Turn Your Passion Into Profit“ e-book and workshop, and her dance blog won the Reader’s Choice, “Top Dance Business Blog” of the year award, two years in a row. She is a leader in the field of social media marketing and online branding, and is very well-known and sought-after as a dance performer and dance teacher in the New York City dance community.
Ashani is on staff at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City, and teaches Advanced Jazz classes for their Jazz & Contemporary program & Ballet program.
BACKGROUND
Ashani Mfuko is a New York City native, and graduated from Connecticut College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance, and in Hispanic Studies. Ashani received much of her training from the The Ailey School, and is trained in Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Hip-Hop, West-African, Latin, and Ethnic-Fusion dance. Her Jazz dance training came from master teachers including Fred Benjamin, Sylvia Wong, Patti Wilcox, Sue Samuels, and Jay T. Jenkins. Ashani has made appearances on The Tyra Banks Show, The Nate Berkus Show, Good Morning America, Showtime at the Apollo, NY1 News, The Bill Cunningham Show, in films, music videos, and live performances at venues including; Lincoln Center, Madison Square Garden, The Ailey Citigroup Theater, The Joyce — Soho, and the 92nd St. Y. Ashani has taught dance classes at The Ailey Extension, Steps on Broadway, Ballet Hispanico, and many dance schools throughout the New York Metropolitan area.
“I am here to inspire, encourage, and motivate others to discover their unique purpose and greatness, while sharing the love of Jesus Christ.” ~ Ashani Mfuko
What people are saying…
“Ashani,
You have rocked my social media and marketing world! I feel like I have all the control now. That scheduler on FB is crazy, I’m obsessed and I was shocked how many fun things I could come up with! This is great and will totally help me compartmentalize my day better.
Thank you for the inspiration and taking the time to teach me a whole new FUN world of online promoting and storytelling.”
~ Samantha Gobeille
Director/Owner, Arizona Dance Artistry Dance Studio
“Out of all you do for everyone I wanted to stop and say a word or two to YOU. I want to thank you for your heart of service toward people. Your transparency, wisdom and how you share w/so many FREELY. You are an awesome woman with so many personal and professional hats. So today I take a moment and celebrate YOU! I am excited to see your “Next”! We haven’t a clue what God is going to do…;-)” ~ LaShanna Leonard
“You are absolutely correct about Ashani! She’s the BEST! I Thank God for her spirit, & her inspiration to help & Bless others. There are still AMAZING people in the World…I’m so happy I had the opportunity to have her in my Life!!” ~ Germaine Goodson
“Feeling deflated: think I need a date w/ my Finance Your Dance: How To Turn Your Passion Into Profit textbook for inspiration.” ~ Sarah Jean Kaye
“I have no doubt that it’s your open, genuine, giving personality that allows you to be so successful at social media marketing. People who are, find it easy and natural. People who are scared to come out from behind a logo and broadcast marketing, will find it very difficult, I think. Kudos to you for helping dance studio owners to achieve the success that you have.” ~ Jenise Fryatt
A message from Ashani…
I would sum myself up in a few words: Positive, Passionate, Driven, Motivated, Determined, Tenacious, and Unstoppable! Okay, that was more than a few words! I am a native New Yorker, lover of Jesus Christ, and vegan foodie. I spent a large portion of my childhood growing up in New Jersey, but I am 100% New Yorker! I am happily married to a fellow creative artist and entrepreneur, and we are expecting our first child in November 2013! We are very excited!
I am an eternally positive person, and I am here to give, and to be a blessing to others, while helping you pursue your passion, and create the life you’ve always wanted! I’ve been through many ups and downs in my life, but one thing remains the same. No matter how many times I get knocked down, I get back up. This is very much due to my faith in God.
It is my life’s purpose to help you discover your God-given purpose, and explore ways to share your gifts with as many people as possible, while building a profitable and prosperous lifestyle. I look forward to working with you! Contact me anytime!
Dancing through life,
Ashani Mfuko
I decided to work with Ashani after years of following her on Facebook and Twitter. I had implemented most of her advice and felt I needed a few one-on-one sessions to refine my social media skills. Speaking with Ashani put my mind at ease and also made me feel like more in control of my social media skills. I now have an action plan that’s ready to be implemented and I feel my business is heading in the right direction. Ashani is not only knowledgeable but friendly, uplifting, and makes you feel inspired after every session. I am very grateful for her work and look forward to working with her more in the future. I would recommend all aspiring dance artists work with Ashani to ensure they are maximizing their options and creating successful action plans for their future.
It was truly a blessing to become connected to Ashani Mfuko. I’ve been dancing as a soloist for more than 10 years and instructing youth in ballet, modern, liturgical, jazz and hip-hop dance. I was at a point in my career where I needed clarification and an extra push to achieve some personal dance goals. My coaching sessions with Ashani have done just that! From day one she was encouraging and transparent. Her resources and e-books have equipped me with the valuable information needed to pursue my dreams.
I decided to hire Ashani for some direction and planning for my dance class, Phusia. I felt overwhelmed by the idea of coming up with a plan and knew if I could just get one and execute it, I’d be better off. She delivered! I felt empowered and on track. Ashani was available, approachable and supportive. I felt like I was on task and she made sure I stayed on task. I was glad I needed to check in with her because it allowed me feedback and motivation to stay the course. Her words of encouragement still motivate me if only to see them on Facebook. Thank you!
Finance Your Dance stuck out to me because it connected directly to dance. Ashani’s positive energy online attracted me to find out more. Her genuine and sincere personality gave me the confidence to sign up.
Since Finance Your Dance, my daily life is different. I start my days with affirmations and reading inspirations to begin on a positive note. The help and advice regarding social media for both my business and arts education group has been life changing. Thanks to how Ashani lifts me up and sends encouragement, while demonstrating the do’s of social media have inspired me to begin my own weekly tweet chat.
Ashani Mfuko and the Finance Your Dance Movement have drastically improved my connections in the NYC dance, aerial, and dance education world as well as taught me that I AM MY OWN BRAND. I have had tons of friends tell me I’d be a successful business owner, though the thought of ever owning that much responsibility and potentially financial burden scares me. Ashani made me realize however, I AM MY OWN BUSINESS! Since I have been involved in the Finance Your Dance courses, I have joined Twitter, Pinterest, & LinkedIn, gotten new head shots and brought my butt back to the classroom more often, and started networking online. I’m thankful that I now know Ashani Mfuko. She is a mentor who is priceless!
I am sooo happy I met Ashani. These days, it is rare to meet someone who does what they say. Not only does she follow through, she does so with a smile and makes you feel very special in the process. When it comes to social media, I was clueless. She helped me get set up and continued to provide support after delivery. I highly recommend Ashani. She is definitely a jewel.
My life, business & spirit have been blessed and enriched through my connection with Ashani Mfuko. Ashani has been a mentor, friend and inspiration to me. We are miles apart but she carries an essence of compassion that lets you know that she is available to you. Her Mentorship & coaching have challenged my standards of professionalism. She has shown me how to work smarter and this in turn has improved my productivity drastically! Ashani equally understands the world of business and the dance industry. I would and do recommend her because she has the wherewithal to address your questions but even see deeper than the question. She is knowledegable, experienced & driven. Ultimately what I admire is her integrity and grit. Ashani Mfuko has been a divine connection and I am very thankful for it.
I’m so grateful I reached out to Ashani Mfuko! Just had the most wonderful coaching session and everything seems so clear and simple now. Thank you so much for our session and for my homework! I will definitely be scheduling our next session very soon.
Her help and expertise is exactly what I need, I can’t tell you how grateful I am. This is my year, yes! Thank you, Ashani
