Today we’d like to introduce you to Samara Byrd.
Hi Samara, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
First and foremost my story begins with God, all things have been made possible for me in my career and life through him. He gave me the gift to dance. So with that being said, I’ve been dancing all my life literally. But, my official dance journey / when it chose me, was 17 years ago, and from that our love story began.
My mother and father (Ida & Terry Byrd) enrolled me in dance school when I was 7 years old. My humble beginnings started at D’SHAYS School of dance. Then followed me through high school and continued through college where I received my BFA in dance.
While in high school, I began my professional dance teaching career at local studios, and I’m currently still teaching at multiple dance studios such as From the Top Dance Studio & N.M School of Dance, as well as performing and being the assistant and member of Bad Girls in Heels Company ran by director Vanity Mar’Kee – a dance company that is heavily on the rise.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No road worth traveling is smooth, there will be potholes and ditches throughout but what sets you apart is how you ride over them.
Some struggles I’ve faced have been the no’s I’ve received in some auditions rooms or the not-yets. But as a believer in Christ, I know that he’ll break down the door that I’m meant to walk through.
So I’m manifesting and waiting on my next steps through many open doors.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As a dance artist. I choreograph, teach, instruct, perform, freestyle, and more. I’ve made it my business to be authentic and “saucy.”
This takes me to my next point as an artist, dancer, and performer I’m known as Sauceysam. A name given to me in college & has just stuck. The sauce adds flavor, it has a drip, and there are so many kinds that are needed for different dishes and that explains who I am in the dance community.
I’m also Samara Byrd the businesswoman that assists in the day-to-day operations of dance in bad girls in heels company, at studios, and for my brand.
And lastly, I’m Coach Sam/ Ms. Sam, the tough instructor that pushes her students to be the best versions of themselves. With crazy catchphrases and sound effects. The teacher who makes it known when you’ve done something great and when you need to work on something. The teacher who loves her students and wants to see them all grow.
I’m most proud of proving that dance is and has always been a job just like a doctor or lawyer and that it is a sport just like football or basketball…. Dance is just as important.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out.
My advice is simple, do not let anyone tell you that you need a backup plan or a “Plan B.” Having a backup plan means you didn’t expect plan A to work.
Something I wish I knew starting? Hmmm… I think for me I appreciate different stories that end up with the same goal. I’m very big on getting to your own end goal by doing it your way. You won’t know how you got to the end of the road unless you followed your directions and your specific path.
Especially because we are all on different roads. So I don’t wish anything different on the things I didn’t know.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Benjamin Burke –
Kiana – https://instagram.com/kswvisuals?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Kai aka Rbkvisuals – https://instagram.com/rbkvisuals?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Ocie Clelland – https://instagram.com/oc_shot_it?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Stephen Hudgins – https://instagram.com/stephenhudginsphotography?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
