Msdevotedtiff

Welcome to another special Women’s History Month edition of Pop Culture Wednesdays!

This week, we are celebrating the visionary women who have shaped the world of dance. As a professional choreographer and trained actor, the storytelling, technique, and sheer innovation these women bring to the stage and screen deeply influence my own creative journey and the work I’ve created via Devoted Dance Theatre Company and beyond.

Since the video goes by quickly, I’ve put everything from the slides right here so you can read up on these amazing trailblazers:

Fatima Robinson
• Choreographed: Michael Jackson, Aaliyah

Nadine “Hi-Hat” Ruffin
• Choreographed: Missy Elliott, Step Up movie franchise

Tina Landon
• MTV Video Music Award Winner
• Choreographed: Janet Jackson

Paula Abdul
• Emmy Award Winner
• Choreographed: Coming to America, Janet Jackson

Camille A. Brown
• Multi-Tony Award Nominee
• Choreographed: Broadway and contemporary theater

Katherine Dunham
• Created the revolutionary Dunham Technique
• Choreographed: Modern dance and Hollywood films

Charm La’Donna
• MTV Video Music Award Winner
• Choreographed: Kendrick Lamar, Beyoncé, Bad Bunny

Why is Italian “High Art” but Spanish is a “Language Barrier”? 🎭🇻🇦 vs 🇵🇷🎤

For this week’s Cultural Commentary Tuesday, we have to talk about the Super Bowl Halftime show.

While I was in my living room weeping over the symbolism of the sugarcane field, I noticed a pattern on my timeline that gave me the “ick.” So many people felt the need to add a disclaimer: “I didn’t understand a word he said, BUT it was a vibe.”

As a creative professional, I have to ask: Why do we feel the need to qualify our enjoyment of this culture? We go to the Opera, we listen to choirs in Latin, and we never pause to say, “I didn’t speak the language.” We just accept that the art transcends the words.

So why is it different for Benito? Let’s discuss. Did y’all notice this double standard too? 👇🏾

It’s Random Share Saturday! ✨

For this week’s share, I’m celebrating a major milestone. I am officially featured in Bold Journey Magazine! 📖

It is such a surreal feeling to see my face and my brand, Tiff Wright Writes, in an actual feature. We talked about everything from keeping creativity alive to the official unveiling of the Geechmobo Reef series. 

This feels like the moment my author journey became “press official.”

🔗 Click the link in my bio to read the full article!

When the roots run deep...

For Cultural Commentary Tuesday, we’re talking about the unspoken language of rhythm. 🥁✨

It’s Black History Month, but we’re out here prepping for Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl. Some might think that’s a conflict, but if you know the history, you know it’s all connected. Bachata, Reggaeton, Salsa—the heartbeat of these genres is Afro-Caribbean.

Seeing Black and Brown communities come together to celebrate an artist like Bad Bunny isn’t just about a halftime show; it’s about acknowledging that our cultures have always been cousins, conversing through the drum.

We are celebrating our history and embracing the joy of our neighbors. The hips don’t lie, and neither does the lineage. 💃🏾✊🏾

2016: The Year I Forgot I Was Winning 🎞️

I almost skipped this trend. My memory told me 2016 was just a year of survival—trauma, couch surfing, and estrangement. But when I opened the archives, the receipts told a different story.

I wasn’t just surviving; I was serving, creating, and building. Here is the chronological proof of my “Year of Trying”:

EARLY 2016: SERVICE & MINISTRY
* Feb & March: Giving back to Big Brothers Big Sisters and ministering in dance with my Shiloh Church family.
* April: Won a corporate video contest for ADT and volunteered at a Prom Dress Giveaway. (And yes, caught Beyoncé for $40! 🐝)

MID-YEAR: PRODUCING & CREATING
* May: Produced my own “33 Years of Black Girl Magic” Birthday Concert & Expo.
* June: Celebrated love at weddings and kept my performing arts company buzzing with video blogs.

LATE 2016: THEATRE & ADVOCACY
* The Arts: Earned my first and second paid choreography credits for two separate productions: Reigniting the Revolution at the Ritz and Dreamgirls at the Carver (where I also performed!). I also took the stage in Elegies for AIDS awareness.
* Oct - Dec: Walked for mental health awareness, launched my blog, and ended the year with two ACHI Magazine nominations.

The Lesson: Your memory will delete your victories if you let it. I thought I was drowning, but I was actually swimming the whole time.

Check your own archives—you might be doing better than you think.

#2016

My memory filed 2016 under darkness. 🌑 The receipts told a different story.

For , I’m getting vulnerable about the year that looked like a disaster on paper (trauma, couch surfing) but was actually the year God sustained me the most. We call it the “Year of Trying.”

Don’t let your memory delete your victories. I’m breaking down the full story on my YouTube channel.

👇🏾 Watch the full video here:
https://youtu.be/e94qnK02VPU

This week’s Event Recap Thursday is a look back at how I spent the MLK holiday weekend earlier this month. It’s not just about the events—it’s about the tradition.

I spent the holiday feeding two very different parts of my soul. First, I headed to the Colorado Symphony for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire™ in Concert. Then, on Monday, I went to the MLK Jr. African American Heritage Rodeo.

✨ The Full Circle Moment
Sitting in these seats was emotional. Exactly one year ago, I attended the Prisoner of Azkaban concert and the rodeo, but I was in a completely different space. That was right when the burning inflammation and sciatica began—the warning signs before my major flare-up and surgery. To sit here this year, present and able to enjoy the moment, reminded me of how far I’ve come.

🤠 Grounded in Culture
As a Southerner living the city life in Denver, the rodeo was a beautiful way to celebrate MLK Day. Seeing Black cowboys and cowgirls in the arena affirmed my passion for putting my culture into my art. It even sparked a new idea: I think there is some historical fiction about Black folks in the West waiting to be written! ✍🏾

🪄 Inspired by Magic
And seeing the Symphony bring a magical world to life? That is pure fuel for my author heart. Watching the audience engage with that story makes me dream of the day readers might get just as lost in the worlds I’m building.

After three very dynamic years, I’m realizing how much I crave stability. Building these annual traditions gives me that sense of consistency I’ve been looking for.
Question for you: Do you have an annual event or tradition that helps you feel grounded? Let me know in the comments! 👇🏾