In June 2020, The International Association of Blacks in Dance launched its I Said, Can You Hear Me Now campaign, in response to the many solidarity letters and statements that were being issued by the White American Dance Community. The dance industry is not immune to racism and white supremacy culture, and Ballet in particular has glorified and upheld the notion of Black bodies being inferior and White bodies being superior in this field, for a very long time. Arthur Mitchell countered that proclamation with the founding of Dance Theatre of Harlem.

The Black body is exquisite and beautiful. Period.

Many in our field have risked death and arrest for simply touring with a company in the South during a period when it was illegal for Black and White dancers to share the stage. Friends, what WE can no longer do is be on the sidelines and silently stand by and watch. This type of silence is deadly. It must be fixed through SYSTEMS CHANGE.

And so here we are. In response, a group of leaders in the classical ballet and dance fields assembled to discuss and address how they could affect change. They have turned the lens on themselves and their organizations to evaluate their practices and policies, to brainstorm and share, and to listen and learn from one another. With a renewed commitment the Artistic Directors Coalition for Ballet in America proclaim:

“What became clear was that our art form, born of imperial courts of Europe, is in need of an overhaul if it is to move further into the 21st Century. We come together as a collective to initiate change and to foster greater trust in how our organizations are run. The exquisite beauty of ballet must be relevant if we are to survive. This will require a vision that is more inclusive, that is capable of acknowledging and respective of the diversity of human culture. This group of artistic leaders are all committed to building broader diversity and greater equity. And as we work in our own organizations to address any inequities, we agree that a first step is to open opportunities at the educational level. Our mission is to foster trust in our organizations and embrace a broader vision of cultural inclusion in classical ballet.”

The companies and artists in this group have agreed to an initial step designed to create equal access and opportunity for all young artists, and where aspiring young artists of all colors and race feel welcomed into the art form. Participation, collaboration and involvement by all will shape and define the ballet of the future. With this commitment to the future of our art form, they are unveiling their first collective pilot program.

Each will devise a unique program that will create access for more young artists of color to participate in America’s classical ballet and contemporary dance companies as well as provide young artists free online experiences with the companies.

The dance companies will create a two-hour virtual visit that will be specifically designed by each individual company to best represent their vision, culture, artistic philosophy and to get a sense of the community they create at their companies. The two-hour virtual experience may include:

• A virtual visit to the organization’s facilities to be experienced by young artists, their families, and teachers
• An online, live ballet or repertory class with the company’s leadership and artists to experience each organization’s unique style and approach
• Learning and coaching of a company repertoire by the artistic directors, rehearsal directors or company members
• Q & A with the organization’s students, professional performers, production team and administrators

This is only a first step and only the beginning. The program is the first in a number of action steps and reforms the coalition will implement over time to move Ballet forward and truly become an art form for everyone. The inaugural group of individuals and companies launching Artistic Directors Coalition for Ballet in America – Pilot Program for African American Inclusion are:

To learn more and participate, please click on the dance companies name below:

	Open House Date: April 18, 2021	Open House Dates: April 12 & 13, 2021
Open House Dates: February 12 & March 6, 2021		Open House Dates: May 1 & 15, 2021 Learn more about company opportunities: click here
	Open House Dates: March 20 & 27, 2021	Open House Dates: April 17 & 24, 2021
Open House Dates: March 13 & April 10, 2021		Open House Date: February 28, 2021

Photos by: Bill Hebert; Scott Robbins, Geek With a Lens
Photo Credit: Da'Von Doane, Dance Theatre of Harlem; Dissonance Dance Theatre; Lindsey Croop, Dance Theatre of Harlem