Throughout the month of February, many Americans celebrate Black History Month, a period of the year dedicated to honoring the contributions of Black figures to American culture and society. The lesser-known Black Futures Month, which is also celebrated in February—and often in conjunction with BHM—looks to art and artists to envision an equitable future for […]
Still stuck at home and looking for ways to honor a socially-distant Black History Month? This February, consider taking some time to educate yourself, and to celebrate the contributions and experiences of Black dancers with these seven inspiring book and movie recommendations. “Black Ballerina” The 2016 documentary from producer/director Frances McElroy interweaves the stories of […]
Throughout history, trailblazing Black dancers pushed dance and choreography into the future, and broke countless barriers in their pursuit of artistry. Yet Black dancers and creators are often omitted from dance history curricula. To celebrate Black History Month—and to help you widen your window into dance history—Dance Spirit compiled an (incomplete!) list of some of […]
Social justice has a been a prominent theme in many Black American dancemakers’ repertoires. Today, on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day—and in the midst of ongoing social and political turmoil in America—this theme carries new resonance. Dr. King’s legacy has spurred the creation of many dance works, with many creators using his words to respond […]
Dance and activism can go hand in hand in a number of ways. Over the past few months, many dancers have turned to their art not only to advocate in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, but to highlight injustice within the dance world itself. Whether it’s incorporating dance into protests, starting conversations with […]
Last month, a photo of two 14-year-old Black ballerinas—Ava Holloway and Kennedy George—dancing on Richmond, Virginia’s Robert E. Lee statue lit up social media as Black Lives Matter protests seared through the U.S. The dancers, clad in all black, stood balanced in sous-sus with their fists raised while the statue awaited its still-anticipated toppling. Holloway […]
Multitalented movement artists Sheopatra Jones and Yorelis Apolinario first met while auditioning for Season 12 of “So You Think You Can Dance.” They connected immediately. At the time, Jones was forming a new all-female collective called The Council, a safe space for women to develop their art, and she knew she wanted Apolinario to be […]
Since the nationwide fight against racial inequality took center stage in May, organizations across the dance world have been looking for meaningful ways to show their support, rather than fall back on empty social media signifiers. July 10–11, Diamante Ballet Dancewear is taking action with Dance for Change, a two-day event dedicated to fundraising for […]