Our Story
Our Mission
To transform the lives of youth and families by making creativity a pathway to wellness, belonging, and economic mobility.
Through culturally relevant arts, digital learning, and entrepreneurship training, we equip young people with the skills, confidence, and opportunities to rise beyond systemic barriers and build thriving futures.
Our Vision
A world where every young person—regardless of zip code or circumstance—has access to creative education, financial empowerment, and career pathways that lead to long-term stability and generational success.
We envision Innovation Factory hubs across the nation, fueling a movement where creativity becomes essential infrastructure for health, equity, and economic opportunity.
About Studio T Arts & Entertainment
Studio T Arts & Entertainment (STAE) is a national creative health, arts education, and workforce development organization transforming how youth in under-resourced communities access opportunity. For more than 25 years, we’ve used culturally relevant arts, digital learning, and entrepreneurship training to help young people build confidence, belonging, leadership, and pathways to economic mobility.
Founded in Sacramento in 2005 by dance veteran and creative health advocate Tamaira “Miss Tee” Sandifer, STAE has grown from a small hip hop class into a nationwide movement—now serving over 270,000 youth and families across six states, alongside 7,800 educators and community leaders.STAE_National Impact_Fact Sheet…
Our Mission
We exist to break cycles of poverty through prevention and provision—using the arts, media, and entrepreneurship as tools to heal, empower, and equip youth for long-term success. Our programs bridge creative expression with financial literacy, technology, mental wellness, and real job skills that prepare young people for the industries shaping the future.Copy of STAE - Grant Sample Doc…
Where Creativity Meets Economic Mobility
STAE’s dual innovation is simple and powerful:
Reach the unreachable—meeting youth in schools, neighborhoods, detention facilities, and digital spaces.
Teach beyond the arts—leveraging hip hop, media, and storytelling to unlock leadership, literacy, employability, and self-belief.
Our programs now include:
Dance, music, and media arts training across 1,600+ annual classes
The Innovation Factory—a 44,000 sq. ft. creative campus with production studios, podcast rooms, classrooms, and business incubator spaces
Side Hustle Academy, where youth earn real income through photography, videography, social media management, design, and branding
PassToClass.com, our digital learning platform with 1.8M+ online engagements
LVL Up Creative Campaigns, empowering youth to produce high-impact content around mental wellness, public health, and community pride
Basic needs support, from meals and hygiene kits to financial education
Cultural and community events, including California’s Day of Dance and national dance exchanges
National Reach & Measurable Outcomes
STAE consistently delivers 2–7x higher impact than national averages in mental wellness, belonging, arts access, and youth employment readiness. Our programs produce transformative, trackable change:
84% improved mental health
88% increased sense of belonging
85% BIPOC arts access
93% retention in justice-impacted youth programs
63% of alumni out-earn their parents within 5 years
44% reduction in stress indicators statewide
85% improved school attendance
Our reach includes:
282,000 youth served nationwide
14,800 youth and families served annually in California
322 schools across 6 states
7,362 educators supported
STAE_National Impact_Fact Sheet…
The Innovation Factory: A Home for the Next Generation
Opened in partnership with Gensler, BEHR Paints, the State of California, the City of Sacramento, and SMUD, the Innovation Factory is our flagship 44,000 sq. ft. creative health hub. It includes production studios, podcast suites, photography labs, editing bays, performance spaces, and entrepreneurship workrooms—giving youth access to industry-standard tools typically out of reach for low-income communities.
This campus serves as:
A living classroom for digital media, design, tech, and performing arts
A business incubator where students earn income through real client work
A community hub for events, showcases, and cultural exchange
STAE_National Impact_Fact Sheet…
A Legacy of Transformation
STAE was born from adversity and built through resilience. Founder & CEO Miss Tee has dedicated more than 30 years to helping young people turn turmoil into triumph. Her journey—from losing her building, home, and stability during the 2008 recession to building a national organization—mirrors the resilience she instills in every student. Her leadership has earned national recognition including:
U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2025 Business Person of the Year
LA Times Inspirational Women Leadership Award
Gold Stevie Award for Female Executive of the Year
California Legislative Women’s Caucus Woman of the Year
STAE_National Impact_Fact Sheet…
A Movement Rooted in Culture & Community
We honor the pioneers who shaped the arts that shape our youth. Our work with dance icon Popin Pete—through PopinPete.com and “Dance With Legend Popin Pete”—connects new generations to the lineage of street dance culture and its global impact.STAE_National Impact_Fact Sheet…
STAE is not just an arts organization. It is:
A health intervention
A workforce development engine
A creative economy accelerator
A community safe haven
A pipeline to purpose, pride, and prosperity
What’s Next
Our future is bold. With planned expansions into Harlem, Tulsa, Atlanta, and Philadelphia, STAE aims to build a national network of Innovation Factories—creative health and economic mobility hubs designed to close equity gaps for generations to come.
MEET OUR FOUNDER & CEO
Tamaira "Miss Tee" Sandifer is a 30-year dance education expert specializing in pulling the best out of youth. She has developed some of Hollywood’s most sought after young dancers including THE 2016 winner of ‘So You Think You Can Dance’, 2018 World of Dance stars, members of the Jabbawockeez, and more. Her graduates currently travel the world with artists and celebrities that include: Justin Beiber, Jennifer Lopez, Selena Gomez, Rihanna, Chris Brown, Usher, Beyonce, Ellen & More. You’ll see her graduates on the stages of MTV Music Awards, Nick Choice Awards, BET Awards & more. But to her, some of the biggest successes of her program have come from students who finished high school and went on to become college graduates.
As CEO and founder of Studio T Arts & Entertainment, PassToClass.com, California’s Day of Dance, Side Hustle Academy, LVL Up and @SweetTeeTime, Miss Tee’s heartbeat is to champion the development of every child, build confidence and character as well as develop a conquering spirit that believes anything in possible.
Sandifer’s success in building this organization is the direct result of her own struggles and triumphs growing up in Richmond to a single mom raising five siblings. Early in her career as a teaching artist she consistently saw disinterested kids suddenly electrified by the prospect of learning a new move. Her studio in Sacramento now offers local students much more than dance lessons; at Studio T, young people from all backgrounds become skilled professionals in performance and stage crew, graphic and costume design, photography and videography, and of course, choreography. Sandifer’s “whole person” approach addresses every young person’s needs so they can heal, connect, and flourish as key participants in the creative marketplace. Her influence on the creative economy is not only evident in the work that she is doing today, but will have a lasting impact through the many lives she's changed on her life mission.
She serves thousands of youth and educators in school districts throughout Northern California and across the country every year through educational partnerships & enrichment programs related to physical as well as mental & emotional health. Her passionate advocacy for the arts has taken her to the State Capitol where she partners with local and national civic leaders to bring arts-inspired, socially and culturally relevant incentives to the academic day.
Meet the Team
Miss Hannah
Lead Dance Captain Miss Hannah Feuerwerker discovered her passion and talent for dance when, at the age of twelve, she started at Studio T Urban Dance Academy. By the time she was sixteen, she was not only teaching herself, but she had bloomed into a confident young woman with a strong work ethic and a drive to do more. Eight years later, she has become a walking example of the program, modeling the power of dance in Sacramento’s schools, churches, community centers, and libraries. She is a debt free college graduate with a Dance major and Communications minor, from Sacramento State. Additionally, she owns her own DJ company and is the Program Manager and Lead Dance Captain for Studio T Arts & Entertainment.
In a very short time, Miss Hannah has performed, traveled, and attended workshops across the country, including: Pulse New York, LA Hip Hop Intensive, Monsters of Hip Hop, and Los Angeles’ BuildaBeast. She has worked with artists like Kehlani, Lecrae, DLow, Khaled, Ella Mai, and Kamaiyah. As a DJ she worked with professionals at her local radio station Hot 103.5. Miss Hannah is a testament to the power of dance and community connection she received as a Studio T student.
Miss Asia
Dance Captain Miss Asia has been dancing at Studio T Urban Dance Academy since the age of 9 years old and has been teaching since 15 years old. Her dream was to always be a part of a strong team, but never would of thought she would be doing it in the imaginative and creative way she is today. Her favorite style of dance is Break Dance and Hip Hop!
Studio T has changed her life for the better, not just her dance skills. Her self confidence, skilled organization, and even event coordination has led her to reach dreams and goals that was once believe to be unreachable, but has now become her life and everyday living. Now the creativity developed and giving of herself has grown, improved, and are shown over the many years at Studio T. she has found that she is not just an inspiring dance performer but artist as well.
In her dance career at Studio T, a lifestyle she lives by, she has been able to perform, travel, and be trained in work shops all across the country, such as Pulse, LA Hip Hop Intensive, Monsters of Hip Hop, and most recent BuildaBeast. With the right encouragement and support of mother and coach Ms. Tee, she has also become a self taught gymnast and is exploring animation, hoping one day to join the team of Pixar as well and is headed into her life with a positive purpose and joy.
“I am eager to use my creative talents and people skills to advance the goals and objectives of Studio T because they build not just champion dancers but champion families ” – Asia Sandifer
Cameron Rodriguez
Cameron Rodriguez plays a vital role at Studio T Arts and Entertainment as the Head of Programming for the media department. In this capacity, he takes charge of producing diverse and engaging content for Studio T. His contributions range from creating an e-course to developing numerous episodes of compelling programming that captivate audiences. Cameron's expertise in content production and his passion for filmmaking allow him to curate a rich variety of shows and educational resources that entertain, educate, and inspire.
In addition to his work at Studio T, Cameron is deeply committed to nurturing the next generation of filmmakers. He leverages his expertise and experience to teach youth film literacy across California, aiming to inspire and empower young individuals to explore the world of cinema. By sharing his knowledge and passion for filmmaking, Cameron strives to instill creativity, critical thinking, and storytelling skills in aspiring filmmakers. His dedication to educating and mentoring the youth serves as a catalyst for the next generation of talented filmmakers to bring their unique stories to life. With a vision to create impactful documentaries and films of his own, Cameron's work at Studio T and as an educator embodies his unwavering commitment to filmmaking and its power to shape hearts and minds.
Mr. Angel
Mr. Perris
Mr. Teddy
Mr. AJ
