Tag: black dancers

Celebrating Black Futures Month: 4 Up-and-Coming Black Dancers Making History Right Now

Throughout the month of February, many Americans celebrate Black History Month, a period of the year dedicated to honoring the contributions of Black figures to American culture and society. The lesser-known Black Futures Month, which is also celebrated in February—and often in conjunction with BHM—looks to art and artists to envision an equitable future for […]

Celebrate Black History Month at Home with 7 Dance-centric Books and Films

Still stuck at home and looking for ways to honor a socially-distant Black History Month? This February, consider taking some time to educate yourself, and to celebrate the contributions and experiences of Black dancers with these seven inspiring book and movie recommendations. “Black Ballerina” The 2016 documentary from producer/director Frances McElroy interweaves the stories of […]

5 Iconic Black Artists Who Changed Dance History

Throughout history, trailblazing Black dancers pushed dance and choreography into the future, and broke countless barriers in their pursuit of artistry. Yet Black dancers and creators are often omitted from dance history curricula. To celebrate Black History Month—and to help you widen your window into dance history—Dance Spirit compiled an (incomplete!) list of some of […]

4 Dance Works Honoring the Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

Social justice has a been a prominent theme in many Black American dancemakers’ repertoires. Today, on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day­—and in the midst of ongoing social and political turmoil in America—this theme carries new resonance. Dr. King’s legacy has spurred the creation of many dance works, with many creators using his words to respond […]

Jamal Josef's Children’s Book Encourages Boys of Color to Embrace Dance

Many young men face some sort of pushback when they decide they want to become a dancer. This rings true disproportionately more for Black boys—and was particularly true for dancer, choreographer, and creative director Jamal Josef, who’s worked with artists like Raphael Saadiq and Jordin Sparks, and is one of the masterminds behind Beyonce’s iconic […]

Meet Thom White, the Creative Genius Behind the Stunning "bbygrl" Visual

You may have caught a glimpse of the mesmerizing movement on your Explore page, or you might’ve peeped the repost with over 1M views right on Chloe x Halle’s Instagram page. But if you haven’t watched it yet, you need to. The viral “bbygrl” video, highlighting 20 Black dancers of all shapes, complexions, and sizes […]