Tina Thompson Dance Fitness Foundation

'TAKE A CLASS WITH TINA THOMPSON AND SHE WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE'
by Lovetheburn on October 29, 2012

I once read on foursquare 'Take a class with Tina and she will change your life'. It's true.
I've always been a gym rat but I was getting bored with the same routine so one day I decided to take Ultimate Conditioning with Tina Thompson. I didn't know what to expect so it was kinda scary. I made sure I was allllll the way in the back of the class...hopefully Tina will not notice the new chick in the back. Boy, was I wrong! She called me out not too long after lol.
The music is fast and furious just like Tina's work outs. The class starts out with stretching then we immediately go into cardio...intense cardio. Tina combines plyometrics, strength, conditioning and dance choreography. Expect a lot of running in place, squats, jumps, jump squats, lunges, kicks, jumping jacks with the body bar or weights and dance choreography. Expect repetition, A LOT of it.
In the moments when we are repeating the moves over and over and my sweat is flying everywhere I go into some kind of crazy fitness trance.
I have been working out for several years however after I started taking Tina's classes I noticed a significant difference in my body. I am more toned, especially my legs and arms and my endurance is at the best that its ever been. By the end of class I feel like I lost a ton of weight, not just physically but also mentally. I leave Tina's class de-stressed from the week. This is my kind of therapy!
Tina's class is not for the weak heart-ed. Tina will call you out just like a great coach will.

SKAZZ × SKIN × Tina Thompson‑Pope Signature Sneaker
The SKAZZ × SKIN × Tina Thompson‑Pope Signature Sneaker is a limited‑edition dance‑fitness shoe released in 2008 by Sansha USA. The sneaker was created for Tina Thompson‑Pope, a Ms. Fitness USA/World competitor, dancer, and fitness performer known for integrating athletic conditioning with Afrocentric and contemporary dance. The model was sold publicly through Sansha’s flagship store at 57th Street and Broadway in New York City, as well as through the company’s online platform.

The sneaker is notable for being one of the earliest Black‑woman‑led dance‑fitness footwear collaborations and one of the few artist‑endorsed models produced by Sansha during the 2000s. The design was endorsed and archived by Sansha founder Franck Raoul‑Duval.

Background
During the mid‑2000s, Tina Thompson‑Pope emerged as a prominent figure in hybrid dance‑fitness performance. Her work combined competitive fitness training, theatrical movement, and Afro‑diasporic dance forms. Sansha’s SKAZZ line, which specialized in street‑dance and studio‑fitness footwear, identified Thompson‑Pope as an ideal collaborator for a performance shoe designed for multidirectional, high‑impact movement.

In 2008, Sansha USA partnered with Thompson‑Pope and her company, SKIN Dance Company, to create a signature sneaker reflecting her athletic and artistic style.

Design and Features
The SKAZZ × SKIN × Tina Thompson‑Pope sneaker was engineered for dance‑fitness performers requiring both flexibility and support. Key features include:

High‑top construction with reinforced ankle support

Split‑sole SKAZZ performance outsole for articulation and turning

Mesh‑suede hybrid upper

Embroidered “Tina Thompson” signature on the lateral panel

SKIN branding on the side and heel

Glitter‑textured finish on select colorways

Available in Black, Purple, Mint Green, Red, and Gold

Sizes 6–12

The sneaker was designed to support cardio‑dance, studio training, and performance‑level choreography.

Release and Distribution
The sneaker was released in 2008 as a publicly sold, limited‑edition model. It was available:

At the Sansha USA flagship store on 57th Street and Broadway, New York City

Through Sansha’s online retail platform

The model was marketed to dancers, fitness competitors, and studio athletes seeking a hybrid performance shoe.

Cultural Significance
The collaboration is recognized as one of the earliest examples of a dance‑fitness sneaker endorsed by a Ms. Fitness USA/World competitor. It also represents a rare instance of a major dancewear manufacturer partnering with a Black woman artist‑athlete during the 2000s.

The sneaker’s co‑branding with SKIN Dance Company reflects Thompson‑Pope’s influence in shaping early dance‑fitness culture in New York City. Its endorsement and archival preservation by Franck Raoul‑Duval further solidify its place in Sansha’s product history.

Legacy
Although produced in limited quantities, the sneaker has become a collector’s item among dancers, fitness performers, and enthusiasts of early 21st‑century dancewear. It is frequently cited as a precursor to modern hybrid dance‑fitness footwear and remains a significant artifact in the history of Black‑led performance innovation.

SKAZZ × SKIN × Tina Thompson‑Pope
World Fitness Competitor Signature Dance‑Fitness Sneaker
Sansha USA, New York City — 2008

This limited‑edition high‑top sneaker was created for Ms. Fitness USA/World competitor Tina Thompson‑Pope and sold publicly through Sansha’s flagship store at 57th & Broadway. Designed for hybrid dance‑fitness performance, the shoe features a split‑sole SKAZZ chassis, reinforced ankle support, and Thompson‑Pope’s embroidered signature.

Co‑branded with SKIN Dance Company, the sneaker represents one of the earliest Black‑woman‑led dance‑fitness footwear collaborations. Endorsed and archived by Sansha founder Franck Raoul‑Duval, it stands as a rare example of early 21st‑century performance‑wear innovation in New York City’s dance and fitness communities.

📰 2. PRESS‑RELEASE STYLE ANNOUNCEMENT (2008)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — New York City, 2008
Sansha USA Announced the SKAZZ × Tina Thompson‑Pope Signature Dance‑Fitness Sneaker

Sansha USA unveiled a groundbreaking collaboration with Ms. Fitness USA/World competitor Tina Thompson‑Pope: the SKAZZ × SKIN Signature Dance‑Fitness Sneaker, available exclusively online and at Sansha’s New York flagship store on 57th & Broadway.

Designed for the emerging world of dance‑fitness athletes, the sneaker features a lightweight split‑sole, high‑impact ankle support, and a mesh‑suede hybrid upper engineered for multidirectional movement. Each pair carries Thompson‑Pope’s embroidered signature and SKIN Dance Company branding, marking a historic partnership between a global dancewear leader and a rising fitness‑performance innovator.

This shoe reflects her power, artistry, and athletic precision.”

The SKAZZ × Tina Thompson‑Pope sneaker was available in Black, Purple, Mint, Red, and Gold, sizes 6–12.