The Dancing Mom

COMARO CRONICLE-At the tender age of three, Jade Tannous started dancing and this year her dream of opening her own dancing academy has finally become a reality.

Although Jade started with hip hop, tap, ballet and modern it was the art of tap that really grabbed and inspired her. Even today as a dance instructor, Jade says that art is not very popular in South Africa and many people do not understand the degree of difficulty involved in this dance form. In her years representing South Africa at the World Championships as a tap dancer in Riesa, Germany, Jade came across big American and European tap teams, but few from South Africa.

In 2002 she came sixth for a solo tap dance at the World Championships, although she represented South Africa since 1997. That same year she was also part of a small tap dancing group who came sixth. The group employed the services of a Canadian choreographer, Matthew Clark, and he brought out the best in the group.

The year Jade turned 21, the UK Spirit of the Dance and Broadway cast toured South Africa, and she toured with the group after successfully auditioning for a part. The show ran for 12 weeks and afterwards the cast asked her to accompany them to Reno, USA and take up a permanent position.

At the same time, Jade’s dad ended up in hospital after an accident and he was in a coma at the time she had to respond to the invitation. She made the decision to stay with her family and see her Dad recover after he eventually woke up. It was a difficult decision, but she isn’t sorry she made it. Being part of a Lebanese family means your family comes first.

During that period she also started dating her now husband, Jonathan who she married in 2012. Together, they travel overseas regularly, and two of her favourite destinations are France, where they had a skiing holiday and Jonathan proposed, as well as the Maldives.

Their favourite restaurants in the South are Vera Vita and Piatto’s. Jade still dances for relaxation and remembers frequenting dance spots with her dancing friends she grew up with. People always ended watching them just because of their amazing abilities.

Even though she always knew that she would dance, she studied Public Relations at Bramley College after matriculating from Marion College. She enjoyed her years at Marion and said everyone knew one another. She took part in netball, but danced six to seven days a week and was very passionate about it.

A year ago Jade and husband Jonathan were blessed with twin girls; Jasmine-Rose and Juliana-Ava. Laughing, she said she only left home for the first time when they were four months old, and would often just cry from exhaustion. She sometimes felt it was all she would be doing for the rest of her life. Even though it was a very hard time, Jade could rely on her strong family network and her faith in God. She sees everything as a blessing from Him and when times have been tough, she can turn to Him for help.

With the help of her family, she started Jade Tannous Dance Academy in Glenvista and Waverley at the beginning of the year. She feels it is important for moms to live out their passion and lead by example. It has taken a lot of courage to take this step, but for now she works afternoons only and will slowly build up her academy.

Her advice to aspiring dancers is to follow your dream, don’t lose your focus and work very hard. Remember that if you take dancing very seriously, it is an expensive pursuit, but don’t let that put you off. Find a way to fulfill your potential.

To parents with twins she says; good luck! Even though the first year is the toughest time, it does get better even if it doesn’t feel like it. Twins are a blessing. Choose each day to stay positive and remember; God only gives you what you can handle.

If your child wants to take dancing lessons you can phone Jade at 082 494 4046.