November 5th 2023.
Black professional dancers are both underrepresented and underpaid in their profession. Data from Zippia shows that Black dancers make up approximately 7% of the dancer workforce, yet they are the lowest-paid demographic, making an average of $49,011 yearly. This has been a focus in the field of ballet in recent years, but other dance disciplines are also affected.
In light of this, Shola K. Roberts, an assistant professor at Arizona State University's School of Music, Dance and Theatre, took matters into her own hands. She launched Dance Grenada in 2020, as well as the Dance Grenada Festival held in Grenada, West Indies. Roberts was inspired by her own experiences after graduating from Howard University in 2009. Despite eventually finding success, she felt a responsibility to lend a hand to others in the same position.
"Eventually, I was being called to be a part of this showcase and to travel here and do this work and create, et cetera. And so that was really my journey," she said to Essence Magazine. "I was a freelance dancer and teaching artist, going into the schools and cultivating my pedagogical practice. I got to a point where I was good in my career, but I started to ask myself, how do I empower learners to find their voice through movement while creating a living for themselves?”
Dance Grenada Festival is a space for Caribbean and international artists to participate in workshops, performances, and panel discussions. Roberts describes it as a hub for innovation in dance, scholarship, and entrepreneurship, which gives Black dancers-- an underrepresented demographic-- critical tools to build and sustain their careers.
This year's festival was a success, with more attendance than previous years. Roberts is proud of the fact that the financial compensation for the artists who attend has improved each year.
"We are grateful to all of our partners who have made it possible to host at least seven teaching artists each year on the island and compensate them for their time and expertise," Roberts said to Essence. "Dance Grenada is my blessing. Being able to bring all the individuals together to share this thing that we love so much on the island that I love so much is something that is very important for me. We have these short-term moments when we’re on the stage, but how do we sustain the careers of our dancers? How do we sustain livelihood? I want to stress the importance of honoring and valuing our dancers and supporting them because that’s really what it’s about."
Shola K. Roberts has used her own experience to create a platform for Black dancers to not only perform, but to find their voice in the profession and to make a living. It is an essential step in creating a more inclusive and equitable dance world.
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