black swan

So, I had a ballet audition this morning and it was fine, but that’s not really what struck me most about my day.

There was only one other girl auditioning, and she was Black too. She only started dancing a few years ago, and she just moved to the city. She had no idea how the local and express trains worked, knew very little about the industry, and was generally feeling a bit lost and frustrated, so I hung with her for a little while and shared all the knowledge I had so she could feel more confident going forward. In return, she took me to Steps on Broadway, where she does-work study and where I’ve never taken class before (and been to scared to go alone), to look around and get a feel for the place. I don’t know everything by any means, but I knew enough to help get her on her way. And she knew enough to help me, too.

We Brown ballerinas have to stick together. Yes, we all know about each other because we’re all out here lurking on/flexing for the ‘gram, but where are we when we truly need one another in real life and in person? Misty Copeland is a literal bona-fide certified star, Chyrstyn, Paige and Daphne (and plenty of others) are killing the game, Wallace TaKiyah is making it easier for us to find each other online and we’re getting more mainstream media facetime, but are we really physically, emotionally 'outchea’ for one another as friends and sistahs?! This is a tough industry to be in alone in any case, but it can be especially lonely when you have no friends or fellow dancers that look like you. It is critical that we establish a real-life, emotionally rich sisterhood of Black and Brown ballerinas.

So, I’m out here for you if you need me. And this is saying a lot because I’m an Aspie who generally struggles to talk to new people but I’m willing to challenge myself and my weirdly-wired brain for all y'all. I’m @theblackswandiaries on Instagram. I take class every morning at BDC, I hit Planet Fitness three mornings a week, and you can generally find me in Harlem.

Brown Girls Do Ballet. We do sisterhood and friendship and mentorship and inspiration, too. Let’s flourish together.

Heloise Bourdon and Josua Hoffalt in Nureyev’s Swan Lake

“Jewels” performed by Staatsballett Berlin

Alena Kovaleva Vaganova Ballet Academy 2016

Viktoria Tereshkina and Vladimir Shklyarov in Diamonds.