Black History Month at the RAD
We’re marking Black History Month in the UK here at the RAD, looking at Black and Brown dancers who have made history and those who are still making it. Over the course of October (and beyond), we’ll be sharing their stories here and on social media to celebrate their contribution to the art of dance. We’ve been sharing #ProudToBeRAD over recent months, but are pleased to take a backseat to Black History Month’s #ProudToBe campaign. What are you #ProudToBe? Let us know by tagging us on social media. We will be celebrating your stories by sharing your photos and videos on our channels.
‘Just As Important As Michael Jordan’
Tremaine Emory on Alvin Ailey, the Black activist and choreographer who founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1958, when Black stories weren’t being told onstage through modern dance.
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7 Iconic Black Women Who Changed The Course Of Ballet History
Refinery29 celebrate Misty Copeland and the black ballet dancers who paved the way for her success.
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RAD podcast: Céline Gittens
Born in Trinidad and later moving to Canada, Céline is now a Principal at Birmingham Royal Ballet, where in 2012 she became the first woman of colour in the UK to dance the leading role in Swan Lake.
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15 Black Dancers who Changed American Dance
Dance Informa magazine celebrates some famous (and some not so famous) names from US dance history.
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Black dance stories
Check back here as we will continue to add more stories throughout the month.
LauREN Beharie
"I think young dancers ignore ballet because it is hard to find dancers that look like them. But ballet is a beautiful art and should be open to everyone." Read more
Namron
Namron, dance teacher, choreographer, lecturer, and the first black dancer employed by a British dance company. Read more
Akua Acheampong
"We are all the same when our eyes are closed. In the dance community, a call to action and the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement means bringing awareness to what makes us the same while acknowledging the challenges faced by blacks or people from racialized communities, and their barriers in dance." Read more