The reason why we don't require ballet for our performing company might surprise you.
The short answer to why we don’t require ballet is that we don’t want to perpetuate a racist dance culture.
That probably doesn’t make a lot of sense to you, but let me explain…
“Ballet is the foundation of dance” is something I’ve said, implied and perpetuated throughout my teaching career.
But it’s not true. That statement is actually rooted in racism and white supremacy, but not obviously so.
Ballet was created by noble courts in Europe, right?
Then it made its way across the pond and flourished here.
Then other dance forms were influenced by ballet: Jazz, Musical Theater, and even Modern.
So yes, ballet is connected with some styles and can help you be a more well rounded dancer. I personally love ballet and know it made my back, legs and ankles super strong when I was doing it every week.
However, there has been dance since humans have been walking upright (and arguably before that).
To say that ballet is the foundation of dance, dismisses every style that came before it, or isn’t directly related to it.
Here’s some you would probably recognize: tap, hip hop, Irish step dance, Salsa, bachata, swing, Polynesian dance (ie. Hula), folk dances, Native American dance, and break dancing just to name a few.
And by dismissing non-white forms of art, the dance community is centering the conversation onto the dances that white folks have made.
I learned about this idea about a year ago, and am now seeing it everywhere. But when you know better, you do better right?
Thrive Dance just started a new performing company called Elevate and the requirement is to take 2 technique classes.
But we include jazz, contemporary, hip hop and musical theater as a technique class because we want our students to know that
ballet is not the only form of dance with technique
you don’t have to be great at ballet to be a good dancer
we will not center white culture as being the more acceptable way of moving through the world.
If you’re interested in your child performing with Thrive Dance, click here and fill out the info. I’ll get back to you in 24 hours (except Sundays).