SCORE Guides TRS Kids’ Performing Arts Company in Next Act

Tanya Rollins Shadley began singing in church at just 5 years old. By 8, she had been cast in her first theater production at Norfolk State University.

“The bug bit me really early,” said Shadley, of Virginia Beach, Va. “I didn’t have access to a lot of training programs due to high costs, that’s why I’m forever grateful for Southeastern Virginia Arts Association summer workshop at Norfolk State University.”

Now this wife and mother of three is paying it forward for current and future performing arts students through her business, TRS Kids. Since its founding in January 2020, TRS Kids LLC has provided affordable classes, workshops and performance opportunities for kids ages 5 to 17 in the Hampton Roads area.

“Black and Brown-faced kids need to have access to affordable training, so this is why my program exists,” Shadley said. “Having a partnership with the Governor’s School for the Arts is major. While I don’t guarantee them a slot in their program, I do guarantee them access to the door.”

For Shadley, an actress, singer, stage manager, author, writer, director and community event planner, it’s about bridging the gap to the arts for anyone that’s interested. She works to instill confidence in all of her students.

“You understand that you deserve to be in that space,” she said. “You walk into the room differently when you feel that you should be there.”

Shadley received a boost of confidence when she was chosen from a pool of more than 2,200 applicants to participate in SCORE’s 60thAnniversary Pitch Competition. Contestants were pared down to 60 contenders who presented their pitch live before panels of judges at the five events. Of the 60 chosen to compete, 15 winners were chosen. Shadley was one of 45 finalists.

“No matter what there’s going to be more exposure for my programs, more clicks on the website, more people wanting to donate or sponsor a child,” Shadley said of the silver lining to not winning the compeition. “I love SCORE for that exposure. It is a game-changer.”

Leading up to the competition, participants were matched with a SCORE mentor to help refine their pitch, strengthen their presentation and hone their business plan.

SCORE Mentor Barbara Walsh helped Shadley put the final touches on her pitch. She connected after the competition with SCORE mentor Tim Richard, who made suggestions for people she could connect with for programming and suggested she write talking points for her ultimate goal: Leading a TED Talk.

“I’ve got a global message that I think would inspire a lot of people. What happens when you get out of your own way?” Shadley asked. “I talk confidence, but what happens when you walk into rooms that your mentors were not invited in? Or didn’t even know existed? Like the many generations before me, I rise!”

For now, she’s excited to stage a production at the historic Attucks Theater in Norfolk on March 7 and is proud to create the Inaugural Juneteenth in the Peake festival, Chesapeake’s first celebration of its kind.

“It’s about honoring the past, building a healthier tomorrow,” she said of the community festival. “This is another way I use the arts. The arts helps guide conversations and connect with young people and community members in a different way.”

TRS Kids’ summer theater programs begin in June, culminating with a production in August. Recent classes had 40 participants, a dramatic increase from 12 when TRS Kids began. Shadley has a long-term goal of 75 to 100 students and hopes to see enrollment continue to grow.

“I am in the process now of pulling more people in on the team. This is me doing a lot of this, but I have some talented people that have helped me teach and my parent group is amazing,” Shadley said. “Before, it would be one project at a time. Now they’re all sprouting at the same time.”

And it all began from that seed she planted at 5 years old.

To learn more about SCORE, request a mentor or volunteer to be one, visit score.org.

About SCORE

Since 1964, SCORE has helped more than 17 million entrepreneurs start, grow, or successfully exit a business. SCORE's 10,000 volunteers provide free, expert mentoring, resources and education in all 50 U.S. states and territories. Visit SCORE at score.org.