This post is part of our “Artists Inspire!” series, in collaboration with COCA/Tallahassee Arts. Each week, we feature local artists of all genres in our community. “Artists Inspire” gives us a glimpse into the lives of our working artists and cultural leaders – promoting what is unique to Tallahassee and our surrounding area.
Sherika Duncan is the founder, entrepreneur, and author of The Setup and Soul You Book Collection published books. She is a certified project manager with an MBA and a current doctoral candidate at Saint Leo University.
Sherika’s business, Excellence Dance Studio, Inc. is a non-profit organization providing performing arts and enrichment programs, serving rural and inner-city areas of Madison, Leon, Jefferson, and Gadsden counties.
What is necessary for your creative process?
My creative process is to innovate and inspire young and old through performing arts; to instill in people the ability to dream and cultivate various creative thoughts and visualize the ways to transform their ideas into actions through the arts.
What fictional character would you like to bring to life and meet?
Mister Rogers (from ‘Mister Rogers Neighborhood’) always distinguished between the real world and the make-believe. He always reminded his viewers as he got ready to depart about making each day your best day. He described how to do so by just your being yourself. Because you are unique, and there’s only one person in the whole world that’s like you. Either people will like you just the way you are or not.
What music is playing in your car?
I’m listening to “Minding My Business” by Minzee Keyz because it is inspirational and intentionally allows me to stay focused.
What is the last local live performance, or book you have read, that had an impact on you?
Atomic Habits by James Clear because it is a great resource for transforming bad habits into good habits.
It’s time to explore Tallahassee and Leon County; where are we going and why?
We will explore the Tallahassee Railroad Square Art District to enjoy the park, the artwork on the buildings, and explore the small businesses in the commerce section.
If you were trapped in a TV show or movie for a month, which would it be?
A TV show called ‘Manifest’ because you can predict disaster before it happens.
What superpower would you like to have?
Time-traveling to experience various time points in history or the future to fact-check everything.
What do you like best about living in Tallahassee?
The Southern hospitality and the affordability of the cost of living.
What have you learned from failure?
An opportunity to grow each time I fail. There is always room for growth without an expiration date.
What do you hope you will be remembered for?
I want everyone to acknowledge the consistent value-added to their lives in some magnitude, such as advice, resume or job/college reference, application assistance, mentoring, encouragement, or some act of kindness to pour into all humankind.
Visit www.tallahasseearts.org for more information about local arts and cultural events and ways to get engaged in our area’s cultural community!
By Erica Thaler
Council on Culture & Arts