A Day in the Life of Our NY Dance Studio
The sun hasn't yet risen over Manhattan when the first dancers arrive at ShareGreetings' NYC studio. While most New Yorkers are still hitting snooze, our dancers are already lacing up their shoes, stretching tired muscles, and preparing their bodies and minds for a day filled with movement, creativity, and cultural expression.
What happens behind our studio doors directly translates to the joy we bring to screens worldwide through our personalized greetings from Africa videos. Today, we're pulling back the curtain to show you where the magic happens!
Our Studio: Where Tradition Meets Innovation
Nestled in a renovated warehouse in Brooklyn, our dance studio combines industrial charm with state-of-the-art facilities. Exposed brick walls contrast with gleaming hardwood floors and floor-to-ceiling mirrors. African artwork and textiles add splashes of color and cultural context to our creative space.
But a studio is more than just a physical location—it's a community, a philosophy, a living embodiment of our mission.
Mission and Vision
ShareGreetings was founded with a simple yet powerful mission: to share authentic African cultural expressions through dance and bring joy to people celebrating special moments worldwide.
Our dance studio serves as the creative engine behind this mission, where skilled dancers from diverse backgrounds come together to honor traditional African dance forms while adapting them for modern, personalized video greetings.
"We believe dance is the most universal language," explains Sarah Okafor, our founder and creative director. "When someone in Australia receives our video celebrating their wedding or birthday, they might not understand all the cultural nuances, but they absolutely feel the joy and celebration in every movement."
Historical Background
Before becoming ShareGreetings' home base in 2020, our studio space has a rich history. Originally built as a textile factory in the 1930s, it later housed a recording studio in the 1970s where several notable jazz musicians recorded. There's something fitting about our walls having witnessed the creation of textiles and music before becoming home to dance—all art forms deeply important in African cultural traditions.
When Sarah founded ShareGreetings, she specifically sought a space with character and history. "I wanted dancers to feel inspired just by walking through the door," she says. "Great art requires both discipline and inspiration, and this space provides both."
Meet Our Dance Stars
While we have over 20 dancers who regularly perform in our greeting videos, let's meet a few key members who form the backbone of our artistic team.
Ellie Daley: Master of Traditional West African Dance
With roots in Sierra Leone, Ellie brings authenticity and deep knowledge of traditional West African dance forms to our studio. Her specialty is integrating traditional movements with contemporary flair, making ancient celebrations accessible to modern audiences.
"Every movement in traditional African dance has meaning," Ellie explains during a quick break between rehearsals. "When I perform a fertility dance for a couple's wedding greeting, I'm not just moving beautifully—I'm literally blessing their union with ancient wisdom through movement."
Ellie leads our morning technique classes three times weekly, ensuring all dancers understand the cultural context behind their movements.
Zil Inami: Choreography Director
Originally trained in ballet at Juilliard, Zil discovered African dance forms during a year studying abroad in Ghana. This unique background makes him exceptional at creating choreography that honors tradition while being visually striking for video.
"Ballet gave me structure and precision, but African dance taught me joy and community," Zil says as he demonstrates a complex sequence for an upcoming birthday greeting. "In our videos, we need both elements—the technical excellence that makes movement beautiful on camera, and the authentic spirit that makes a greeting feel personal."
Zil choreographs most of our signature greeting sequences, creating frameworks that can be customized for each client's needs.
Adelle Welch: Specializing in Celebratory Dances
If you've received a ShareGreetings birthday video, you've likely seen Adelle's radiant smile. With her background in Nigerian celebratory dances, she brings particular expertise to our birthday and anniversary greetings.
"Different life celebrations call for different energy," Adelle explains while selecting colorful fabric for an upcoming shoot. "A wedding dance carries different intentions than a birthday dance or a graduation celebration. I make sure we're honoring these distinctions in our choreography."
Adelle also trains new dancers joining our team, helping them understand the specific movements used for different types of celebrations.
Ilo E.: Music Director and Dancer
Dance and music are inseparable in African traditions, which is why Ilo's dual expertise as both dancer and musician proves invaluable. He selects and sometimes creates the authentic music that accompanies our dance greetings.
"The right rhythm can transform a dance from pretty movements into something spiritually powerful," Ilo says while adjusting drums for the afternoon session. "When we create a greeting for a cancer survivor's recovery, for instance, the healing rhythms we choose are as important as the dance itself."
A Typical Day in Our Studio
While no two days are exactly alike, here's a glimpse into the rhythms that keep our creative engine running:
6:00 AM: Morning Preparation
Before formal classes begin, early risers arrive to prepare personally. Some meditate in corners of the studio, others stretch while reviewing choreography notes, and a few practice particularly challenging sequences in front of the mirrors.
"These quiet morning moments are sacred," says Ellie. "It's when we center ourselves and set intentions for the day's creative work."
7:30 AM: Technique Classes and Warm-ups
The entire company gathers for technique training. Today, it's a session focused on traditional movements from Ghana, led by a visiting master teacher. The studio fills with the sound of bare feet hitting the floor in unison and the rhythmic clapping that accompanies certain sequences.
"Technique is our foundation," Zil reminds dancers as they work through a challenging combination. "Even when we customize and adapt for videos, we must always honor the correct form first."
10:00 AM: Greeting Video Production
This is when we transform from dance company to production team. Today's schedule includes filming six personalized greeting videos:
- A 50th birthday celebration for a woman in Toronto
- A wedding greeting for a couple in Sydney
- A graduation congratulations for a doctoral student in Chicago
- A retirement celebration for a teacher in London
- An anniversary greeting for grandparents in Miami
- A "get well soon" message for a hospitalized child in Dallas
Each video requires costume changes, different choreography, and personalized elements incorporating the recipients' names and special details.
"This is where the real magic happens," Sarah observes from behind the camera. "Watching our dancers transform a standard greeting format into something that feels created just for one specific person—it's beautiful to watch."
1:00 PM: Lunch and Community Time
Our communal lunch area buzzes with conversation as dancers refuel. Today's topic: a traditional dance from Senegal that several newer company members are learning for upcoming videos.
"These informal teaching moments during lunch are often as valuable as formal classes," notes Ilo. "It's how dance knowledge has been passed down for generations—through community and shared experience."
2:30 PM: Masterclass with Guest Artists
We regularly invite masters of various African dance traditions to work with our company. Today, a renowned dancer from Mali is teaching movement specific to harvest celebration dances.
"Each region of Africa has its own dance vocabulary," explains the guest teacher. "When creating personalized greetings, having this diverse movement vocabulary allows us to match the perfect celebratory style to each customer's needs."
4:30 PM: Video Review and Quality Control
The team gathers to review completed videos before they're sent to customers. Each video is evaluated for technical quality, cultural authenticity, and personalization.
"Does this truly feel special for the recipient?" Sarah asks about a graduation video. "Will they feel that this was created just for them?" This attention to detail ensures every ShareGreetings video delivers the emotional impact our customers expect.
6:00 PM: Evening Rehearsals and Development
While some dancers head home, others stay for development of new greeting formats or to work on special projects. Tonight, a group is developing a series of healing dances specifically for "get well" greetings.
"These evening sessions are where innovation happens," Zil notes. "We honor tradition while constantly evolving to meet our customers' needs."
Community and Growth
Beyond creating our greeting videos, our studio serves as a cultural hub. We offer:
- Weekend workshops open to the community
- Educational programs for local schools
- Professional development for dancers interested in African traditions
- Cultural exchange events with other dance companies
"A studio should be more than a workplace," says Sarah. "It should be a living cultural center that both preserves traditions and helps them evolve."
How Our Studio Work Translates to Your Perfect Greeting
When you order a personalized African dance greeting from ShareGreetings, you're benefiting from the dedication, expertise, and creativity that fills our studio daily. Our dancers don't just perform—they bring cultural understanding, technical excellence, and genuine joy to each personalized video.
Whether you're celebrating a birthday, anniversary, graduation, or another special moment, our studio is where your greeting comes to life—where skilled artists dedicated to their craft transform your good wishes into movement, music, and magic.
The next time you receive or send a ShareGreetings video, remember the vibrant studio in New York where your celebration was choreographed, rehearsed, and performed with care by dancers who understand the true power of cultural expression through movement!
