Why It Is Useful To Redfine What it is to Be A Black Dancer pt2

Taking pride in who you are in the world of dance also has an affect on younger, aspiring artists. This can be a positive or negative impact depending on how you carry yourself. What you stand for and believe is also pertinent to their growth. While not everyone asks to be role models you have to know that in pivotal moments of history people will look to those with loud voices. The year of 2020 brought out creativity and boldness in dancers all across the world. Some focused on reintroducing the longstanding topic of equity and inclusion, as well as racism within dance companies while others harnessed those topics, their concerns, and created their own spaces as a solution to the issues. There is something I feel is worth mentioning. I realize that most may not agree with this thought but if we can be honest, there is validity to it. In the midst of inspiring younger black dancers, espcially in a time as today, it is importnat to train the up and encourage them within the art first. At base level we should be training their minds to realize that nothing is too far out of their reach-- that they can accomplish great things and watch their dreams come true. When I began training in dance with actual technique classes I was in middle school. All the way through high school I experienced training with both white and black dancers. Throughout those years I only had two black full-time dance teachers. Although post high school I would experience the sting of looking different and hearing racially charged comments I am thabkful my black dance teachers did not steer our teachnique training with the "black dancer narrative". It is my belief that their choice to focus soley on our training is part of the reason I feel comfortale standing in any room today. I didn't get to that point instantly. There were more than a few moments I felt inferior because I lacked confidence in my ability to perform but I never wrestled with deficiets of being a black dancer. Those two black teachers gave me solid building blocks. I have seen things that suggest to young black dancers that their being black needs to be accomodated. The issue I have with this is that it can groom dancers to only be drawn to companies and spaces that are filled with black people. Because I have experienced, like many others, the difference in a room where you're the majority versus the minority I am not saying an all black or mostly black environment isn't comforting. I am saying however, that black dancers should not restrict themseves to majority-ruled rooms because of some disporportionate behaviors that do exisit and have been experienced. If the goal is to be recoognized and accepted overall how can that happen within our own dance groups. Sure we can celebrate eachothers but that is not an answer that will render solutions to the excalaims of there needin to be more equity, includion, visibility and representation in dance companies. It is impossible to make strides in spaces we exclude ourselves from. Young dancers need to know they can thrive in any environment and that not every person is looking to mishandle their talent and value. Some may read this and gather that I am mostly oblivious to some of the harsh realities of navigating the dance world as a black dancer. I am not. As an adult I have faced racially charged comments and pasive-aggressive behaviors but I made the decison to accept my beauty and thrive regardless of anyone's unfortunate opinions.

Why It Is Useful To Redfine What it is to Be A Black Dancer

It is time to redifine what it is and what it can actually look like to be a black dancer in 2022. I do not call it wrong for black directors, educators, choreographers to use their authority for black dancers in the creation process, especially since I have seen and experienced the disproportional casting of black and brown bodies in some spaces. Walk in that priveledge and authority, truthfully. Afterall, there are pros to certain people gaining positions of influence. To the opposite end of that thought, something that began in integrity and as a celebration of black dancers becomes more of a stumblig block to ourselves rather than a stepping stone when we only cycle the narrative of the struggles and grievences of black dancers, especially black women in ballet. Today, the victimhood of black dancers is disguised under advocacy and the famous statement "representation matters. Since 2020 I have seen, however, the backlash that is going painfully undetected because the truth is, you will not make progress or gain traction with your advocay while simutaneously isolating yourslef within the field you want to be accepted in. How are we constantly isolating oursleves and our people? by relentlessly broadcasting the woes of what it feels like to be a black dancer. It sounds as a cry of strenuous endurance in the field rather than the strength we work and pride ourselves on. Some of the hilighted points of the plea of the black dancer includes things that, on a larger scale have nothing to do with the art form moving forward beautifully. There are things that can be and should be simply looked at as preferences such as hair, tights or shoe color. For example, making a huge deal out of black women being able to wear their hair the way it is within ballet is something that falls into the category of respect for the craft as opposed to a lack of acceptance of the black woman. I have honestly thought to myself at times "Are you seriously wanting to wear chunky twists or two puffs for Swan Lake?". Some of these pleas are not racially charged at all but as they have morphed into the BLM movement and current blackness fad, no one is taking a step back to say "Perhaps we are not being pushed away as much as we are stepping away". Even for me, as a black dancer who has experienced forms of institutional racism in both dance and theater spaces I come to the conclusion that no one wants to deal with a person who focuses so much on negativity. Once we stepped into having to prove the validity of our artistic exsistence and relevence it is no longer a celebration of ourselves but it turns to isolation. Let's jump back to 2020. It was also the year I began virtual training with my new ballet company. Rolled into one with BLM on a new kick and various dancers bringing their distasteful company experiences to social media, I felt the awkward push for anyone who is not black to get on board with everything black at whatever cost. My very thought was the majority of black people gave this vibe that they wanted everyone who is not black to bow down to them. Even in my work place as a professional dancer I saw the effects of the BLM movement. Basically if they were'nt black it felt like they could not say or do anything without possibly making a wrong move. I am in no way condoning the isolation of any person or group due to skin color, race, background or phenotype (different from judging someone based off of the standards of the craft)but man, it was as if directors, choreographers, instructors could no longer push a vision or standards because "black is in!". This is not a knock at standing up for what is right (legitamate and integral initial equal opportunity for dancers) but a call to action for black dancers to change the current narrative and just be you-- in any company or space. My point is that this time can be one to redefine what it means to be a black dancer even while looking at historical truths and staring down the faces of those who just don't want to evolve from their archaic ways of thinking. When I think of the great dancers who blazed many trails before us, their intregity is what stands out. They were passionate, disciplined. They were audacious and they were bold! They created space for themelves because they were not welcomed in others. To me, it did not look like they were trying to prove "I can do this". A huge issue with the "black dance advocacy" today is the underlining "It needs to be Black" connotation that seems to be attatched. The lengends we love lived in much harsher times and went down in history. Why can't we take a pages from their books?

What Dancing Through a Pandemic Taught Me

Originally published on 3/11/21

It's such a strange time. I never imagined having to dance through days like these. From internet panels to social media posts, the "name of the game" is survival. Whether it's companies working to translate their repertoire or theaters having to choose from housing artistic presentations or their doors remaining closed, mostly everyone seems to be in some sort of survival mode. Me? When I think about dancing at a time like this I immediately recognize how blessed I truly am. Although my dancing, much like the majority, began at home, clutching a dining room chair, I have since then toured, danced in multiple theaters and moved to a completely new state. This entire transition has been exciting. There is a part, however, that has been less than thrilling. While the world of dance is experiencing a shift, and maybe even finding new breath in this climate, the subtle whiff of racial isolation stands strong. With all that has been taking place within the last year, I have recently found it necessary to say that I've never been one to "dig" into the racial disparity of the dance life. However, when confronted with issues, it has almost felt as a duty to experience, assess and handle each situation as they come. No. Every situation does not warrant my response but every one of them was deserving of my fullest attention. The questionable situations I have experienced within the past four months have heightened my awareness of the uneven playing field black women start off of on, in the dance world. I have become more insightful as I think about my part; "taking in" those tough moments so other black dancers who will follow in my footsteps can walk with their chests lifted and heads held high. While this is still a weird time for dance, it is a very real time for me. As a dancer, right now, I bask in the beauty of my passion, and the reality of my difference. While many are longing to get back to the camaraderie that is being within a company or even on projects together, I enter my workspace daily never feeling a part unless I barge my way in. While the world grasps for comfort in every waking word of their local news anchors, I go throughout my workspace sometimes having to swallow the words of others for the sake of Godliness (which is greatest) and my responsibility as a trailblazer. Thousands of people across the world feel as though life is passing them by as they sit home and reminisce about their favorite hangout. Most days, I spend the day dancing, pondering how none of the uncomfortable moments have to get me down because I am simply "jete-ing", by. There have been days where I've reminisced on the explored lives of Janet Collins, Delores Brown, Joan Myers Brown, Raven Wilkinson, Misty Copeland, and much like their audacious hope and legendary careers, I too will occupy many more spaces. ...And much like this unforeseen time, I will conquer the days by keeping my dreams socially distant before me, while my hands and heart remain "disinfectant" clean. It is such a strange time. A real time. A legendary time.