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This is Ballet! Becoming a Professional Dancer

9/16/2017

On June 4, 2017, Triangle FAAA partnered with the NC Museum of History and presented The Black Ballerina Experience. We honored Debra Austin, the first African American female principle dancer at a major ballet company in the US. The program included recorded interviews with the artistic directors of the Dance Theatre of Harlem and Carolina Ballet, a screening of a documentary about black ballerinas and a discussion with Debra Austin.

Some of the highlights of the program for me were the standing ovations, the tears in Debra’s eyes, the girls who gathered around her to take photos and get autographs and Debra’s daughter who took a moment to thank me for honoring her mother. There were lots of questions from little girls and their mothers about how to become a professional ballerina.

After the event, Ricky Weiss, Artistic Director of the Carolina Ballet expressed excitement about the number of children who were interested in becoming dancers. We discussed a program for African American children that he tried to start several years ago. I thought that a good first step would be to provide families with information about how to become a ballet dancer. There are so many children already studying ballet and we might be able to help them take it to the next level.

Two years ago, I met Martita and Therron Williams. Their daughter, Leslie is a member of the Martha Graham Dance Company. They provided me with background about how they helped their daughter achieve success. I reached out to them as well as Carmen Felder, an African American ballerina at the Carolina Ballet. Everyone including Carmen's parents agreed to participate in our event.

One of the registrations that I received was from a 17 year old boy named Cameron. I called his mother and apparently in middle school he decided to start studying dance. He had only taken classes in public school. His mother sent me a tape of him dancing and he is amazing! I reached out to the Raleigh School of Ballet and they agreed to provide him with a scholarship. He is going to take 7 classes a week and they said that after a year he should be able to get a dance scholarship for college or become a professional dancer.

We hadn’t even had the program yet and already had an amazing story! It was really wonderful. I didn't think it could get any better.

We presented This is Ballet! Becoming a Professional Dancer on August 27. It included a panel discussion with the parents as well as a dance performance by the professional ballerina who also led workshops for experienced and beginning dancers. Although I shared information about how to audition for the Carolina Ballet's The Nutcracker, I thought it was a long shot. Over 100 children try out each year. One of our girls auditioned and guess what? She was selected to perform in Sleepy Hollow which they are presenting in October. She was also given one the coveted roles of “Party Girl” and “Gingerbread” in the Nutcracker. And by the way, guess what her name is? Kameron.

We are too excited about this wonderful experience. We hope to develop a ballet program to encourage more African American children to become ballet dancers.

Isn’t that quite a story? And I mean really . . . Cameron & Kameron!

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Black Ballerinas at the Carolina Ballet

11/12/2014

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Today many black ballerinas find it challenging to be accepted by American ballet companies. They are told that they don’t have the right physique, they are too muscular. Their darker skin keeps them from blending in with the other dancers. And the image of them as “strong black women” doesn’t play well with the more angelic, ephemeral roles in many ballets. So if black ballerinas want to pursue a career in classical ballet, they often have to go to Europe. But things are different at the Carolina Ballet in Raleigh, NC. Since it began in 1997, the company has always featured African American dancers as either members of the corps or soloists. The company’s Founder and Artistic Director, Ricky Weiss said, “I always look for the best dancers. I think it’s important to have a diverse company, especially in today’s world.”

Debra Austin is the Ballet Master for the Carolina Ballet. Other than the Dance Theatre of Harlem, the Carolina Ballet may be the only professional dance company with an African American in this role. According to Weiss, “(Austin) possesses the gift that few . . . have, which is the understanding of what is good choreography and what is not and that enables her to be a very effective Ballet Master.”

When she was a dancer, Austin made history as the first African American female soloist at the New York City Ballet. The New York Times noted, “ . . while in the New York City Ballet, (Austin’s) smooth open jump and general vivacity there suggested a strong stage presence.”

In 1982, when Austin joined the Pennsylvania Ballet, she became the first African American principal ballerina at a major dance company in the US. Ricky Weiss, then Pennsylvania Ballet’s Artistic Director, said, “Debra Austin had the most beautiful feet and legs of practically any ballerina I ever watched dance”.

Debra Austin began dancing at 8 years of age.   At 12, Austin was given a scholarship to the School of American Ballet and at 15 she was asked to join the New York City Ballet. The dance company was established by Lincoln Kirsten and Artistic Director George Balanchine. Their vision was to create a world-class ballet company that would be racially diverse. When Austin joined the New York City Ballet, the media wanted to interview her. “They wouldn’t let me talk about it.” Austin said. “(Balanchine) didn’t want it to be some story. It was just like ‘She’s a member of the company. Period. The end. She’s no color to me.’ He wanted a diverse company but he didn’t want to publicize it like that.”

Austin has performed some of the most important roles in classical ballet. She danced solos in Swan Lake, A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Coppelia, Giselle and La Sylphide. She performed in a PBS television special, “Live From Lincoln Center”. Austin also joined the Zurich Ballet in Switzerland and spent two years touring in Europe.

Austin’s amazing ballet career has not been without its challenges. After Ricky Weiss left the Pennsylvania Ballet, the company decided to perform Romeo and Juliet. Despite being a principal dancer, Austin was not considered for the role of Juliet. She was cast as one of the gypsies.   She told the director, “Forget it. I’m just not going to be in the ballet.” Austin eventually left the Pennsylvania Ballet and retired from dancing. Austin remains proud of her illustrious career and continues to inspire a new generation of dancers.

Debra Austin ascent in the world of American ballet is a result of her own talents as a phenomenal dancer, Kirsten and Balanchine’s vision for a diverse dance company as well as Ricky Weiss’ ability to focus on what is most important, great dancing. In order for ballet companies to become more diverse a new generation of black dancers must be cultivated and more dance companies like the Carolina Ballet need to provide them with opportunities. It allows black ballerinas like Carmen Felder to pursue their passion. Felder, who joined the Carolina Ballet in 2011, said, “I go to work and I put my pointe shoes on and I wear a tutu. The other day I (had) a mask on and this nurse’s hat and I’m running around having a great time on stage. And in the studio I have friends and we all enjoy doing what we love. It’s a dream come true.”

You can see Carmen Felder in most evening performances of the Carolina Ballet’s Nutcracker. It was described by the New York Times’ radio station as “. . so imaginative and stunning that it’s for the history books”. The show will be at the Durham Performing Arts Center from November 28 – 30, 2014. There will also be multiple performances from December 6 – 28, 2014 in Raleigh and Chapel Hill. For more information, visit www.carolinaballet.com.

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Gaspard Louis - Sharing the Joy of Modern Dance

10/7/2014

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In 2009, a new modern dance company was launched by Haitian-born Gaspard Louis in Durham, NC. Despite achieving international acclaim for his work as a dancer and choreographer with the Pilobolus Dance Company, Louis is still relatively unknown among the African American community. Louis' goal is for Gaspard & Dancers to become the top modern dance company in NC. “Just as Carolina Ballet is (known) for ballet in North Carolina. I would like to be that for modern dance.” Louis has the drive and experience to achieve his vision. According to the Herald-Sun, “(Louis’) work exhibits his own quality of movement that seems effortless even when it requires great strength, flexibility, and control. His work also can embody emotion that touches the core of our humanity.”

Louis moved from Haiti to Newark, NJ when he was just 13. Although male dancers typically start studying at age 11, Louis didn’t take his first dance class until he was in college. During his sophomore year at Montclair State University, a female dance student saw him lead a martial arts demonstration and asked him to be her partner for a piece she was developing. Initially Louis turned her down, but since he was interested in getting her phone number he ultimately agreed. During his first dance class, he had an amazing experience. “It felt like I belonged there.” Louis changed his major from business to dance but he did not tell his mother until after he graduated. Louis says, “I come from an environment where being a dancer was not considered to be a real profession.”

Not long after graduating from college, Louis joined the internationally-renowned Pilobolus Dance Company. After ten years Louis retired and took a job in the banking industry in NYC. Although he was successful, two years later he decided that he wanted out. “If you have a heart, you can’t be in that business.” At a cross roads, Louis had to reevaluate his career path. “I lived my dream once and I experienced my Mom’s dream for her.” A job opportunity for his wife enabled Louis to relocate to Durham, NC. Louis then spent two years teaching Creole at Duke University. He found that he enjoyed working with students and decided to obtain his Master of Fine Arts in Dance from Duke University.

Today Louis serves as the Director of the American Dance Festival’s Creative Movement Outreach Program. He also teaches free dance classes to children throughout the Durham community and recently joined the faculty of North Carolina Central University.

Louis’ desire is to express and experience the joy of creative movement. That is what inspired him to become a dancer. That is the approach that he takes when introducing dance to his students and collaborating with his dancers. And he hopes his dance company will enable him to share his passion, love and joy of dance with the North Carolina community and beyond. For more information about his company, visit www.gaspardanddancers.org.

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This is Ballet! Becoming a Professional Dancer

Black Ballerinas at the Carolina Ballet

Gaspard Louis - Sharing the Joy of Modern Dance

Sherri Holmes

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