New York City dance coach Nekia Thomas-Wise was recently nominated by Fully Focused dancer, Tianna Brown for the 2009 Play It Forward contest. I had the opportunity to chat with coach Wise. 

Here's what she had to say about being nominated, about being a coach and mentor in New York City, and some of her most memorable experiences, including the reality that comes along with coaching girls who confront issues like teen pregnancy and drugs.

Congratulations on being nominated by Tianna Brown and placing 2nd in the Play It Forward contest!  First things first, how do you feel about being nominated by Tianna?

I was really surprised to find out that Tianna nominated me!  I don't really look at what I do with the girls as anything "worth" awarding. In fact, annually, I give the girls an awards ceremony during their recital where I praise their "good" work and reward it.  It felt really awesome to have that sort of role reversal.

You and your team, Brooklyn's Fully Focused recently won the grand prize for the 2009 Nike/YouthNoise Step It Up competition over the summer.  How was that experience for you and your dancers?

The Step it up Competition was an amazing experience!  Fully Focused has been in many competitions -and quite successful!  Step It Up however was the first competition that they've ever won that required them to take so much responsibility outside of dance.  I put lots of responsibility on the girls in terms of attendance, punctuality, and performing.  The Step It Up competition gave my girls purpose in being performers and change agents simultaneously.  It was a learning experience for them to be challenged to take their skill and use it to be even more productive in society!



[Fully Focused PSA for 2009 Step It Up competition]

How long have you been coaching dance?

I've been coaching dance for 10 years and through generations of girls coming and going, Tianna Brown has been under my wing the entire ten!

How did you get involved with coaching? Were you or are you a dancer as well?

I used to take modern dance classes at Brooklyn Academy of Music since age 7 or 8. I started dancing at neighborhood block parties in Bed-Stuy Brooklyn when I was about 13 and a non-profit talent show network, AllStars when I was 15.  Then, by age 20, I started to teach girls from the neighborhood dances for the block parties. 

One day as fall was approaching, I was coming home from college and I ran into one of the girls that had been in the block party dance (one of Tianna's old friends) and she said to me "Nikki, now that the block party is over, we don't have anything to do."  That totally resonated with me in a huge way because it was true.  After the rehearsals and the block party, they always sat in this area we called "THE SQUARE" in the middle of the project complex and just played spades, ate Chinese food, smoked cigarettes or weed, etc.  I was going to and from City College and my part-time tutoring job.  Some days when I left they were there and hours later they were there when I returned.  So, I knew about the AllStars and prepared them for competition that winter. From there, I committed myself to working with these girls all year round to give them something productive to do, Hip Hop Dance.  What better way to reach them?

What are some of your most memorable experiences as a coach? What are some of your most memorable performances with dancers?

Step It Up will forever be a memorable performance!  Attending the Up2Us conference and meeting people that were so passionate about coaching and young people was an inspiring experience.  It made me feel like I'm on a mission with intelligent, powerful people!


What are the most difficult challenges you've confronted as a dance coach?

Difficulties being the coach of an all girl group have been the challenges of being more influential over these girls than their boyfriends! Within the past year, I have lost 2 Fully Focused Dancers to teenage pregnancy.  Both 19 years old, one just had twins.  It's also hard to keep the other girls on a straight and narrow path and encourage them not to follow their fellow dancers who have made poor decisions.

What are some of the most rewarding experiences you've experienced as a coach?

Most rewarding are outcomes of the girls I've worked with through the years.  I've worked hard to take dance and teach real life responsibility.  I always tell them that Fully Focused has a cool fun component and the business component as well.  So, I have a girl from East New York who was in some gang when I got her, SFD (I don't know what the acronym stands for).  She is a freshman in Howard this year and just asked me for a letter of recommendation last night for her business club. Also, Tianna.  You guys already know her success story!

What are some of your favorite songs to perform to?

Favorite songs to perform to are almost all by Jay Z! However, Fully Focused tries thinks outside of the box in terms of mixing Broadway musicals with Hip Hop, etc.



[Jay-Z f/ Alicia Keys "Empire State of Mind"]

What do you think are some of the most important lessons a player or student can learn from her coach?

Students can learn a lot from coaches! They have the opportunity to see a bit of the future, even if it seems impossible.  I want my dancers to take advantage of having me in their lives to some extent.  I want them to use me for insight to structure, and planning life long things.  I hope I serve as a model and help them achieve their future goals. I come from where they come from.  When it's all said and done, I'm one of them!

What are some of the most important lessons a coach can learn from her players or students?

Coaches learn teachable moments from students; for life and for the sport.

How long do you intend on coaching dance?

I plan on coach forever!  I aspire to open up a studio in Bed-Stuy Brooklyn and service so many more young girls.  I'll have dance camp in the summer, classes throughout the year, and Hip Hop aerobics with moms. Then I plan on conducting workshops for moms too!  Tara, I have such a plan.  And, I'm training the current FF dancers to be the teachers at the studio to help them earn money!


Congrats Nekia, keep inspiring and continue to do great work in your community! Shout out to Tianna and the entire Fully Focused dance team.