Entertainer Tiny T struggled to find an outlet for her energy as a child. She tried the school choir but was thrown out for singing off-key, loudly.

She eventually found her niche with Richardson’s Gombeys.

“My uncle ran it and invited me to join,” said the 38-year-old, who was born Demeka Tacklyn. “My family really encouraged me.”

The reggae singer and entrepreneur is now offering a summer camp for young people with similar interests.

“It’s my dream to hold it this summer,” she said. “I just need to sign up ten students to go ahead with it.

“I want to help each child find their own talent. I want to put children in an environment with a lot of energetic vibes. It will be something for them to do with their energy.”

Her eight-week camp is aimed at children between the ages of 5 and 13. Its offerings include dancing and singing lessons.

“Eventually, I’d like to develop into a solid after-school programme,” she said. “I’d like to get to the point where kids have to audition to get in, and it’s not a babysitting service.

“This is for parents who think their children are a little special and want to cultivate that.

“I want to offer somewhere that children can project their energy in a positive direction. Sometimes when they don’t have that outlet they want to lash out.

“I want to show the kids that they are somebody. I want them to feel they can achieve anything they want. A lot of kids need an outlet, they really do.”

She’ll run the camp out of Brokout Studio. She started offering dance fitness classes for children and adults at the Ewing Street premises this month.

“I always did it at other buildings,” she said. “I would have to wait for when space was available. I’d have to ask permission to use it at certain times.

“Now I have my own spot. I can have 5.30am classes if I want.”

When she finally had the keys to her own place in her hands she felt excitement but also a little anxiety.

She pressed forward because she has always had an urge to teach.

“When I was 11 living on Dock Hill I loved to get the children in the neighbourhood together,” she said.

“I would line them up and tell them what to practise and what song they sounded good singing. I would put together a little show for our family. I would charge their parents $1 to come in. That was so fun when I was a little girl.”

• Register at her studio tonight at 5.15pm or contact her on 777-8073, tinyt@transact.bm or Tinyt Demeka Tacklyn on Facebook