Black Dance Magazine

In today’s world, the push for minority representation is omnipresent despite current efforts to rollback progress that has been made in the areas of DEI and civil rights. We see it in the entertainment world, in politics, in education: A distinct lack of inclusion, and a growing call for diverse coverage in these arenas.

African Americans have and continue to make significant contributions to the dance industry in the U.S. and abroad; however, Black dancers are marginalized due to lack of news coverage and funding opportunities. While it is important to acknowledge the historic rise of recently-retired American Ballet Theatre principal ballerina Misty Copeland, it is equally important to note that it has taken more than 75 years for a Black dancer to achieve this accomplishment and amount of media recognition. Most Black dancers are marginalized due to lack of news coverage and funding opportunities. Copeland is the exception.  

The invisibility of Black dancers in the media perpetuates racism in the dance industry, and the erasure of Blacks as pioneers in the field. It also thwarts Black dancers from attaining viable employment, and discourages young Black dancers from pursuing professional careers in dance.

I know firsthand what it feels like to train professionally only to feel frustrated that there are only two dance companies to audition for as a Black dancer: The Dance Theatre of Harlem and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. While attending the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, I was required to read industry magazines like Dance Magazine. Though I rarely saw people of color in the pages, I knew there had to be other Black dancers across the country training to be professional dancers like me. I also experienced racism and discrimination at a local Ballet school. These experiences led me to abandon my dream of becoming a professional dancer, and embrace journalism as a more “stable” career option. I went on to study journalism and dance in college, and had a career in journalism for several years working as a community reporter with the Washington Informer Newspaper as well as freelance jobs writing for Ebony Magazine.

I started Black Dance Magazine (BDM) on a shoe-string budget in 2013. To-date Black Dance Magazine has published seven print magazines, been featured at industry events and conferences and have hosted several dance writing workshops to train the next generation of Black dance writers to continue the legacy of documenting the history and contributions of Black dancers. We also have a large following on social media networks like Instagram and Facebook.

We are currently working on a Summer 2025 digital issue.