Choreographer Inspire empowers bodies, minds through dance
Published:Wednesday | April 9, 2025 | 12:07 AM
While some see dance as mere movement, 30-year-old dancer and choreographer Shamara Spitzer, better known as ‘Inspire’, uses it to ignite emotions and tell a story. Raised in Manchester, her love for music began in church at age six, finding rhythm in every beat of the drums. That passion led her to dance classes, where she eventually became captain of the dance club at Manchester High School.
Driven to explore new opportunities, she moved to the US and earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and finance from the University of South Florida in Tampa.
Like many, she faced pressure to follow a traditional career path instead of focusing on dance, but fate had other plans. “After earning my first degree and securing a work permit in the US, I focused on preparing for the GMAT exams, so that I could do my master’s in compliance and auditing. A few days before the exam, Hurricane Irma hit Florida, and the exams were cancelled, but I was unable to reschedule anywhere in the US,” she recalled.
“I am someone who believes in signs, and I took that as one. I came back to Jamaica, took some time, and decided that I really wanted to invest in my true passion – travelling the world to teach and choreograph.”
Since returning in 2018, she has taken on projects that have reshaped her approach to dance. Competing in the ‘Dance Your Style’ contest and choreographing for Vybz Kartel were key moments which reminded her that it’s fine to stand out.
Inspire’s commitment to non-conformity is fuelled by Tanisha Scott, an MTV VMA-nominated choreographer and creative director. “Since stepping into the spotlight, people often tell me what I should or shouldn’t do. But Tanisha reminds me that I don’t have to conform to others’ expectations. She started as a dancer, then moved into choreography and teaching, and now serves as the creative director for major award shows like the Grammys and VMAs. She’s simply doing what she loves, living her best life.”
INSPIRE TAKES OFF
In 2024, Inspire took her choreography and teaching on her first European tour, visiting over 15 countries, including Russia, France, Austria, Spain, and Germany. Each new destination deepened her understanding of different cultures, rhythms, and movement styles, further shaping her distinctive approach to choreography.
“There are many things that set my choreography apart from others, but one of the main things is my ability to create unorthodox, creative pieces. I don’t want it to look like what you thought it would look like – I make it my point of duty to highlight the beauty of every aspect of the music. I want you to feel, understand, and hear everything, and that takes a lot of creativity.”
Beyond the art of choreography, this dancer places strong emphasis on the physical discipline behind dance, explaining that it has helped her maintain a decent level of fitness over the years, even without consistency in the gym.
“Dance and fitness go hand in hand. Any professional dancer is considered a professional athlete, and it’s important to do conditioning to strengthen and stretch your body, so that you can prevent injuries, achieve a new skill and be more explosive when performing. There is no dance without fitness and health. I’ve also noticed that changes in my diet have made longer dance days feel easier as well. As someone who relies on their body for their craft, I literally cannot do without fitness.”
Carrying on this mindset while teaching her classes, Inspire said, “At the beginning of all my classes with tourists or locals, I do an intense cardio-filled warm-up, jumping jacks, running laps, squats, high knees ... and then we go into a deep breathing and stretching cycle to replenish the muscles after just working them hard. It’s important to me that I instil this because, as performers, we have to build endurance as well as know how to quickly regulate ourselves.”
Movement is just as powerful for the mind and soul. Inspire’s movement quality classes help regulate emotions, with exercises like free movement to music and deep breathing to clear the mind. She encourages others to use movement to release mental clutter and recharge.
Even creative blocks serve as opportunities for Inspire to explore new perspectives. She often finds inspiration in nature, from its sounds to local landscapes, which has shaped her artistry and influenced her work, including her role with the Red Stripe Flavours Squad.
“Being a Flavours Squad member has shown me that I am capable of far more than I initially thought,” she reflected. “I learnt a lot during that experience. It showed me the power of storytelling and the importance of curating every detail – from styling and locations to production and editing. I had full creative control, which strengthened my confidence and expanded my skillset in marketing and brand storytelling, and more people are noticing me and my work.”
Looking ahead, Inspire is focused on expanding her impact both locally and internationally. One of her most exciting projects is Hot Girl Factory, a dance camp set for August 9 to 10 in Kingston.
“Hot Gyal Factory also promotes fitness and health. Two of our instructors are fitness professionals (Luna from Trinidad and Kaytii Insanity, who works with Sweet Energy Fitness in Jamaica). I was very particular in ensuring that we included teachers with fitness backgrounds. Patrons will be in for an intense but fulfilling weekend, where they get to dance, work out, and tap into their inner ‘hot gyal’ energy.”