Taylor Made by Faith
When most people think of Black dance in America, the name Alvin Ailey often rises to the top and rightfully so. Ailey’s work created a legacy that brought African American stories to the concert dance stage in a way that hadn’t been done before. His company opened doors. But as a Black dancer and educator …
I still remember the moment the difference hit me. I had just finished teaching a third-grade dance class at a public elementary school. We were exploring storytelling through movement, and one student who had never taken a dance class before used stomps and claps to show the sound of thunder in her routine. That same …
The Role of Art in Social Change: How Dance Moves Movements When I think about the power of dance, I don’t just think about technique or performance. I think about history. I think about identity. I think about how movement has always been a voice, especially when words have fallen short or been ignored. For …
When I first heard the news that Misty Copeland was retiring, I had to sit with it for a moment. Misty isn’t just a ballerina to me, she’s a symbol of what’s possible. For years, I watched her redefine ballet on her own terms, pushing past gatekeepers and barriers that weren’t designed with her in …
It’s the end of an era, and what a powerful, graceful, and unapologetically bold era it’s been. On October 22, 2025, Misty Copeland will take her final bow with American Ballet Theatre at the David H. Koch Theater in New York City. The Fall Gala marks not just the end of her time as a …
When you think of teaching ballet terminology, you might picture students lined up at the barre, carefully repeating each word after the teacher. But in a summer dance camp setting, there’s room to mix things up. One of my favorite ways to reinforce ballet terms while keeping students engaged and moving is with a Ballet …
I love all things dance. From technique classes to choreography to performance, I’ve always felt at home in a studio. But over the past year, I’ve started diving deeper into the field behind the movement, what makes dancers perform at their best, stay injury-free, and train smarter. That curiosity led me to dance science. And …
Picture this: the sun begins to set, casting a golden glow through the stained-glass windows of an old Southern chapel. Guests hush as the soft swell of a string quartet fills the room. And then, instead of the traditional flower girl tossing petals down the aisle, a ballerina glides forward, spinning delicately on pointe, each …
Motherhood has taught me more about grace, resilience, and flexibility than any plié or port de bras ever could. And somehow, being a dance teacher has made room for all of it. In honor of Mother’s Day, I want to share a little of what it looks like to balance motherhood and a career in …
When I think about the trajectory of my life, it’s hard to imagine where I’d be without the arts. Dance wasn’t just a childhood hobby, it was my safe space, my outlet, and ultimately, the reason I received a college scholarship. That opportunity opened doors I never imagined, and now, as a dance educator and …
