{"id":16909,"date":"2025-08-14T23:27:30","date_gmt":"2025-08-14T23:27:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/?p=16909"},"modified":"2025-08-14T23:27:30","modified_gmt":"2025-08-14T23:27:30","slug":"from-the-projects-to-the-big-stage-how-shawanda-spyda-johnson-clarke-built-a-dance-empire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/14\/from-the-projects-to-the-big-stage-how-shawanda-spyda-johnson-clarke-built-a-dance-empire\/","title":{"rendered":"From the Projects to the Big Stage: How Shawanda \u201cSpyda\u201d Johnson Clarke Built a Dance Empire"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"By Asia Nail
\n<\/em><\/strong>The Truth Reporter
\n<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Some people talk about following their dreams. Shawanda \u201cSpyda\u201d Johnson Clarke<\/strong> lives it \u2014 every single day.<\/p>\n

For more than 15 years, she has been the powerhouse behind FAMED Studios<\/em><\/strong> and Spyda\u2019s 3-D Complex<\/em><\/strong>. Her mission? To show young people that where you start in life doesn\u2019t determine how far you can go.<\/p>\n

She\u2019s taught more than 5,000 kids to dance, act, model and dream bigger. She\u2019s taken them to TV competitions, coached them through national wins, and even shared the stage with stars. And now? She owns six studios across Toledo, Holland and Columbus, with Cleveland on the horizon.<\/p>\n

But Spyda\u2019s story didn\u2019t begin in the spotlight. It began in struggle.<\/p>\n

A Childhood in Motion<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Born in Lexington, Kentucky, Spyda moved to Holland, Ohio with her grandmother and mother when she was just eight.<\/p>\n

The 80s were a tough time. \u201cIt was the crack era,\u201d Spyda says matter-of-factly. Her mother battled addiction, and as the oldest of four children. and the only girl, Spyda often had to be the strong one.<\/p>\n

\u201cGod prepared me young,\u201d she says. \u201cI took the lead, and I wanted more for my life.\u201d<\/p>\n

While friends got caught up in drugs or trouble, she made herself a promise: she wouldn\u2019t drink, smoke, or let her environment define her. At 44, she proudly says she\u2019s kept that promise.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to show people \u2014 you can still be cool, have money, and look fly without falling into the traps around you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Leader Before Her Time<\/strong><\/h3>\n

By her teens, Spyda wasn\u2019t just dancing, she was organizing. She gathered kids from her neighborhood, encouraging them to try flips, sports, and creative outlets instead of street life.<\/p>\n

She spoke at schools, led workshops, and choreographed events. She created dances for city programs, worked with Grace Community Center<\/em>, and taught teens they could \u201cturn up\u201d with class \u2014 no twerking required.<\/p>\n

Her energy and skill caught attention. Schools began hiring her to coach dance teams, lead cotillions, and even choreograph weddings. She worked at a suburban dance school for ten years, gaining professional training while sharpening her own vision.<\/p>\n

By 17, she was already on staff with Toledo Public Schools. She formed a dance crew that traveled the world, won big at Showtime at the Apollo<\/em><\/strong>, appeared on BET, and became a local name.<\/p>\n

A Leap of Faith<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Success didn\u2019t shield her from challenges. Eventually ownership changed at the studio where she worked.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy aura was strong,\u201d Spyda says with a laugh. \u201cWhen God gives you something, sometimes the enemy shows up too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Instead of folding, she prayed. And then she acted.<\/p>\n

One Sunday, driving down Reynolds Road, she spotted a space for lease. It was owned by a retired firefighter and his wife, who agreed to rent it to her. In 2012, FAMED Studios<\/em> was born.<\/p>\n

She balanced her new business with her job at Winterfield Elementary. When FAMED outgrew its first home, the school let her use their gym until she found something bigger. That \u201csomething\u201d turned out to be an old dentist\u2019s office at 2610 Central Avenue. She moved in by 2019 \u2014 and two years ago, she bought the building outright.<\/p>\n

Today, she has locations on every side of Toledo, plus Holland and Columbus.<\/p>\n

The Spyda 3-D Complex Vision<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Her studios don\u2019t just teach dance. They offer acting, modeling, and life skills training. Students learn poise for the runway, precision for the stage, and discipline for life.<\/p>\n

And Spyda has big dreams for the future \u2014 a private arts and education school that will reach kids worldwide.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m surrounded by amazing staff, parents, and supporters who understand our mission,\u201d she says. \u201cThat\u2019s what keeps us going.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lights, Camera, Spyda<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Her impact isn\u2019t limited to the studio. Spyda\u2019s r\u00e9sum\u00e9 reads like a Hollywood casting list. She\u2019s acted on Empire<\/em><\/strong>, The Chi<\/em><\/strong>, Lovecraft Country<\/em><\/strong>, and Power: Force<\/em><\/strong>. She\u2019s appeared in a Juneteenth commercial for Target<\/em><\/strong>, toured with the Millennium Tour<\/em><\/strong>, and performed at the Apollo<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Her latest film, Substantial Evidence<\/em><\/strong>, is streaming on Tubi<\/em><\/strong>. She\u2019s also an independent recording artist \u2014 her fourth album, Complex<\/em><\/strong>, features Toledo Grammy-nominated producer Todd Young<\/strong> and a hit single \u201cDale<\/strong>\u201d with Raz B <\/strong>of B2K<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

One of her tracks even held the number one spot on the Digital Radio Tracker for eight weeks straight.<\/p>\n

And she\u2019s not slowing down. She recently secured a production studio space where she\u2019ll film content, music videos, and even host tour rehearsals.<\/p>\n

Balancing Family and Fame<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Spyda shares life with her husband, John Clarke, and their blended family of five children, including a niece they\u2019ve raised since she was one.<\/p>\n

She\u2019s honest about the challenges of balancing marriage, motherhood, and business.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not easy. But in a family business, everyone has to understand the mission. Other cultures pass things down \u2014 we can too, but we have to be intentional about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Mindset that Built It All<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When asked what advice she gives young women who want to turn artistic gifts into a global brand, Spyda doesn\u2019t hesitate.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to change your mindset. If you can\u2019t block out negativity, you won\u2019t make it. Talent isn\u2019t enough \u2014 this business is 90% business. If your head and your house aren\u2019t in order, your gift won\u2019t take you far.\u201d<\/p>\n

She warns against self-sabotage. \u201cYour body is your temple. Don\u2019t taint it. Don\u2019t diminish it. Love it, nourish it, and keep it ready for the opportunities you\u2019re working toward.\u201d<\/p>\n

What\u2019s Next<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Spyda\u2019s calendar is packed \u2014 grand openings, competitions, showcases, and community events at all six locations. But she still sees herself as just getting started.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery time I think I\u2019m done, God adds something bigger. I\u2019ve checked so many boxes on my goal list \u2014 but my work isn\u2019t done.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her story is proof that the dreams we dare to chase can outgrow the limits we once imagined.<\/p>\n

From a little girl in the projects to a woman building an international arts empire, Spyda has danced every step with purpose. And she\u2019s making sure thousands of young people learn the same steps \u2014 not just for the stage, but for life.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Asia Nail The Truth Reporter Some people talk about following their dreams. Shawanda \u201cSpyda\u201d Johnson Clarke lives it \u2014 every single day. For more than 15 years, she has been the powerhouse behind FAMED Studios and Spyda\u2019s 3-D Complex. Her mission? To show young people that where you start in life doesn\u2019t determine how […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":16912,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,250,17],"tags":[],"wf_post_folders":[306],"class_list":["post-16909","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health","category-local-news","category-local"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16909","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16909"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16909\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16913,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16909\/revisions\/16913"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16912"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16909"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16909"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16909"},{"taxonomy":"wf_post_folders","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wf_post_folders?post=16909"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}