Meet Amira Mourad – Founder of The Cultivate Code, 1 x Dancer Phoenix Suns, 7x NBA dancer Golden State Warriors, 3 x Assistant Coach Golden State Warriors!
Amira's dance journey & how she founded TCC, plus 10% off their 'Making The Squad' program!
For this week’s edition of More Than Poms, we are featuring…
Amira Mourad – Founder of The Cultivate Code
1 x Dancer for the Phoenix Suns, 7x NBA dancer for the Golden State Warriors, 3 x Assistant Coach for the Golden State Warriors
1. Tell us a bit about your background and how it has led you to where you are today!
As most dancers I started dancing when I was three. I grew up a studio dancer doing all the classes I possibly could, and was also on the competition team at my studio. Then danced in High School on the Pom Squad. After High School – I went to ASU where I was on the Dance Team for one year and then didn’t make it make onto the squad. I knew eventually I wanted to be an NBA dancer so that summer I auditioned for the Phoenix Suns. I made it to finals but didn’t make it on to the team. That next year I was able to be part of the organization as a Sunsational. At the same time I put myself in a position to learn from those in the organization and soak in as much as I could. I then made it onto the team. When I auditioned for my veteran year, I unfortunately didn’t make it back onto the Suns. I packed up my stuff and drove back home to the Bay Area and auditioned for the Golden State Warriors where I was on the team for 7 seasons, 3 as a captain and then went on to becoming the assistant coach for 3 years.
2. Inform us of all things The Cultivate Code! What initially inspired you to create this training program and how have you seen your aspirations for it evolve over time?
During the pandemic I was the WDT assistant coach and all the games stopped, which meant work stopped. I couldn’t just sit on my hands so I decided to start teaching dancers what it takes from a lifestyle perspective to make it onto a dance team. Time management, being a brand ambassador, nutrition, fitness. Everything that I didn’t know was such an important element to making it onto your dream team. That slowly made its way into what TCC is today – a full training program to support dancers.
3. How have you seen dancers grow through The Cultivate Code? What can someone expect when choosing your program to train?
Having our TCC Alum make it onto their dream team is my favorite part of my company. I am rooting for you to make it onto your dream team because I know how hard you work, and why you want it so bad, because I was in your shoes, and did not have an easy path to get there.
We have had dancers make it onto a team in their first audition, and some of them make it on their 7 or 10th audition, and we continue to support you in your growth, supporting you in getting 1% better every day.
In our programs you can expect to be pushed, you can expect to be given honest feedback on what you need to improve on, and you can expect to have a growth mindset. I’m tough, I’m a straight shooter, BUT I do it out of love for you, because if you want this dream as bad as I know you do, I will help you achieve it.
4. What is your biggest piece of advice to dancers when training and preparing to make their dream team? What kind of technical aspects do you suggest they focus on along with what kind of mental preparation?
The biggest piece of advice I have is that it’s so much more than dance skills, and unfortunately just taking dance classes is not going to get you onto a team. You have to be a brand ambassador, have a clean social media, be a good team mate. All of those things have nothing to do with dance, and everything to do with you as a human. So those are things that we teach on at TCC because it’s a whole person approach, not just helping you with your dance skills– we do that too, but we want you to make it onto your dream team, and then thrive when you’re on there.
5. What has been your biggest blessing and biggest hurdle when creating this program?
I always wanted to start my own dance studio when I was younger – so I feel like I have that because I am still in the dance world after retiring. The biggest hurdle is that if I do my job right- is that I work myself out of a job when dancers make it onto their dream team, so I am constantly looking for more aspiring pro dancers who are willing to put in the work to make their dreams a reality.
HUGE thank you to Amira for taking time out of her busy schedule to tell us more about her background and about The Cultivate Code! It’s awesome to see someone as amazing and influential as Amira, pouring their time and energy into other dancers to help them make their dream team. Her 1% better every day approach is inspiring and I am so glad to have her as a leader in our dance community!
Use code LINDSAY for 10% off The Cultivate Code’s programs link listed below. Don’t miss out on the amazing training programs TCC provides!
‘Making the Squad’ program link below!