teacher spotlight: quianna simpson
Photo credit: Terry Gilliam
Quianna is a Columbus native who began studying African Dance at age 7. She has taught in many after school and outreach programs throughout the community and is currently seeking her MFA at The Ohio State University. She continues to teach dance to her community through children and adult classes and serves as rehearsal captain for Thiossane West African Dance.
What is your role with BalletMet and how long have you been working with us?
“I’ve been with BalletMet since 2018 and am a dance instructor with Soar on Saturdays and Wiggle Jig.”
Is there someone in the industry that you point to as your inspiration?
“Suzan Bradford Kounta! She is the Founder and Artistic Director of Thiossane Institute and the Thiossane West African Dance Company. For almost the last 40 years she’s been instrumental in providing west African dance classes to the Columbus Community through classes, performances, in school and after school programs, Antioch College, The Ohio State University, summer camps and so much more! Her company Thiossane Institute has been operational since 2000 and I’ve been a member since returning home in 2006.”
Is there a teacher or artist who broke down barriers in the dance world who you feel most connected with?
“In addition to Suzan, I would say Pearl Primus! Pearl was an American dancer, choreographer and anthropologist. Primus played an important role in the presentation of African dance to American audiences. Early in her career she saw the need to promote African dance as an art form worthy of study and performance. She sought to study and present not just the dance but the culture of Africa and the importance of dance within it. In doing so, she found herself.”
What is your favorite part about the work that you do?
“Making connections and serving others. There are so many reasons why people dance, from passion to weight loss. But when we are all together in a studio, enjoying the music and sharing the energy, that connectedness and feeling of cohesiveness…that’s the best!”
Do you have advice for someone who would like to follow in your footsteps?
“Just Go for it! You will never know everything before you get started so just get started. Do things from the heart and trust yourself.”
Thank you Quianna for sharing your talents with us and the Columbus community. We are excited to follow you on your journey!
Dancer Spotlight: Vincent Van Harris
Photo credit: Jennifer Zmuda
Tell me the progression of your career to date…you started as a student with BalletMet correct?
“I began my training in the fall of the 2010-2011 season in the Discover Dance scholarship program. It started with ballet. Then overtime I took tap, jazz, modern, and when I was 12, I started doing hip hop classes outside of BalletMet. In my time here I have worked my way from level one all the way up to level seven which was the highest before the addition of level eight. In 2017, I joined the trainee program and was a trainee until the 2020-2021 season when I started working with BalletMet 2 which is where I have been until this month, when I joined BalletMet full time as an apprentice.”
Who inspired you to become a dancer?
“I’ve had multiple inspirations for dance like growing up with dance movies like Step Up, Breakin, Footloose, anything I could… but one of the first people to inspire me to dance was Michael Jackson. I remember mom would show me his music videos and I would try my hardest to learn how to moonwalk. I would dance around no matter where we were whether it was the grocery store or a doctor’s appointment. I was always moving around when I could.”
Is there an artist who broke down barriers in the dance world who you feel most connected with?
“There are not any artists specifically that I can think of in terms of breaking barriers that I feel the most connected to but having those before like Arthur Mitchell, Misty Copeland, Josephine Baker, Alvin Ailey and so many others show that the black community is not only capable but can thrive and progress dance when given the opportunity to spread their talent and passion with the world. In seeing people like that and in seeing the black company members before me I felt that race wasn’t something that would stop me from becoming a professional in this career.”
What is your favorite role you have performed/career highlight thus far?
“In my career I have been able to perform for so many different audiences and shows but so far, my favorites have been dancing Solor from La Bayadere, the principal man in Balanchine’s Walpurgisnacht, the Mouse King and Trepak in the Nutcracker as well as Fritz when I was younger. Also getting to learn Albrecht in 2020 before the pandemic was one of my favorites to learn.”
In continuing the work, where do you see the most room for growth in the ballet world/what changes would you like to continue to see moving forward?
“One of the things I would love to see is people unlearning their own prejudice and biases and hearing the stories of those around them starting the conversations that will be hard to hear for some, but very necessary to keep an open dialogue for dancers and people of all backgrounds so people can learn from mistakes made by past generations and we can continue the forward progress that is slowly starting to show.”
Student Spotlight: Adara Bowman
Adara is a student with the BalletMet Academy. She has been dancing with us for 7 years.
Is there someone who inspired you to become a dancer?
“Someone who inspired me to dance and continue dancing is probably Misty Copeland because she is just a really strong black dancer!”
Is there an artist who broke down barriers in the dance world who you feel most connected with?
“Misty Copeland again!”
What is your favorite role you have performed thus far?
“Party girl in Balletmet’s Nutcracker”
Do you have a dream role you’d like to perform?
“Probably adult Clara or Sugar Plum Fairy”
Do you want to make dance a career?
“Yes! I am planning and wanting ballet and dance as my long-time career!!”
Accompanist spotlight: Kimberly Cole
In addition to being a professional musician, Kimberly has extensive work experience in administration, public relations, and public service. She studied advertising and graphic design at Columbus College of Art & Design, and will have a degree in Public Management, Leadership & Policy from The Ohio State University after graduating in May 2022. She currently works for Columbus Metropolitan Library and has been with the library system for eight years.
What is your role with BalletMet and how long have you been working with us?
“I am an accompanist for BalletMet, in the Education Department. I have the privilege of playing the piano while instructors teach movement to students in schools and community centers. I am going into my fourth year with the company.”
Is there someone in the industry that you point to as your inspiration?
“It is hard to pinpoint one person as an inspiration. Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Paula Abdul, Jennifer Lopez, Josephine Baker, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Anne Miller, Eleanor Powell, Ginger Rogers, Gregory Hines, Donald O’Connor, and the Nicholas Brothers are some of my absolute favorites. I feel incredible joy when I watch these artists perform on film.”
Is there a teacher or artist who broke down barriers in the dance world who you feel most connected with?
“Specifically in the industry of dance, Alvin Ailey and Judith Jamison not only broke down barriers for Black dancers, but they were phenomenal trendsetting dancers REGARDLESS of their race. I love Misty Copeland as well. Misty is transparent about challenges she faced as a young Black dancer that did not fit in. Her story resonates with me because as a young ballerina I suffered from prejudice against my skin color and body type which eventually led me to quit on my dream of dancing professionally.”
What is your favorite part about the work that you do?
“My favorite part about working with BalletMet is seeing the joy in students during Wiggle Jig classes. It is very special to witness an individual break out of intimidation and dance uninhibited. To see a kid light up when they hear the music start and are given permission to explore physical expression is very rewarding for me. Additionally, I am blessed to play for students with special needs that may not otherwise be given the freedom to move independently within their environment.”
Do you have advice for someone who would like to follow in your footsteps?
“Remain true to who you are and what you love to do. Do not be afraid to try new things. Tune out the naysayers. Be patient when incrementally moving toward a big goal – there is beauty and wisdom in every experience along life’s journey. Believe in the supernatural. Do not let setbacks discourage you from your dreams. It will all make sense when you surpass the challenge, even if it takes a few tries. Create opportunities for yourself. Seek mentorship and guidance. Speak up and let others know where your interests lie. Be proud of your strengths while not being ashamed of your weaknesses – we all have them. Learn to celebrate yourself. Dance uninhibitedly!”
Thank you, Kimberly, for your commitment to your craft and congratulations on your upcoming graduation! We are fortunate to have you as part of the BalletMet family.
Dancer spotlight: Leiland Charles
Photo credit: Jennifer Zmuda
Leiland is a graduate of The Juilliard School and danced with Alberta Ballet prior to joining BalletMet in 2017.
Who inspired you to become a dancer? …and a choreographer?
“Growing up I had a few dancers that inspired me immensely. Probably to no one’s surprise, Mikhail Baryshnikov has always been my number one inspiration. The combination of his acting ability and technical prowess made him the icon he is. The all-around performance quality was always 10/10. Now, in my generation of dancers, I’m thrilled that there are more that look like me who’ve worked tirelessly to show that people of color can be at the top of this field and shine so incredibly well. I do my best to find inspiration from dancers like Jermel Johnson, Calvin Royal III & Brooklyn Mack to name a few.”
“For choreography, the bug hit me much later while I was in my second year at The Juilliard School. I created about 8 or so works for independent workshops throughout my latter three years there and at first, I honestly didn’t enjoy it very much mostly because I didn’t think I was any good. However, I learned a lot about what worked for me and what didn’t when it came to the creative process. Moving into my career I’ve been very lucky to get opportunities to choreograph on such wonderful dancers including my former colleagues at Alberta Ballet and my current home here at BalletMet. I consider my current choreographic style to be neo-classical with a hint of contemporary. Inspirations include David Dawson, William Forsythe, Nacho Duato and Jiri Kylian.”
Is there an artist who broke down barriers in the dance world who you feel most connected with?
“I know there’ve been many who’ve come before me including incredible men like Alvin Ailey, Arthur Mitchell and Albert Evans. Again, they showed the world that your color shouldn’t matter what opportunities you can get for yourself. It comes down to talent, determination and hopefully, lots of humility.”
What is your favorite role you have performed/career highlight thus far?
“My favorite role so far in my career has been the solo man in Justin Peck’s “In Creases.” The moment we found out we were going to do it, I manifested so hard that I was going to be able to dance that part and I’m so grateful I got the opportunity. The role had quite a bit of turning and jumping, which I consider to be two of my biggest strengths.”
In continuing the work, where do you see the most room for growth in the ballet world/what changes would you like to continue to see moving forward?
“I’d love, of course, to see more people of color in higher positions of power in ballet/arts organizations, including but not limited to rehearsal directors, academy directors, resident choreographers, and most definitely executive and artistic directors. And from a general diversity standpoint, I’d love to see many more companies around the world adopt the same kind of look we have here at BalletMet with artists of all shapes, sizes and colors.”
Thank you, Leiland, for bringing your talents both as a dancer and choreographer to the Columbus community. We know there are great things ahead for you and we are excited to be here to witness it!
teacher Spotlight: Brianna Rhodes
Brianna Rhodes is a teacher at Reynoldsburg High School where she teaches Contemporary and Afrofusion dance. She has been working with BalletMet for a year and teaches Soar on Saturdays, a dance access program created in partnership with The King Arts Complex. It aims to give young students the opportunity to explore movement over the course of a free six-week dance class.
Brianna was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio. In 2019, she graduated from The Ohio State University with a degree in Dance, and soon after college, she performed with the world-renowned Dayton Contemporary Dance Company. Throughout her dance journey, Brianna has had the opportunity to perform in Ohio, Chicago, Philadelphia, Bermuda, and Brazil. She is now a freelance artist and dance teacher residing in Columbus, Ohio. Brianna teaches at Dublin Dance Extension, Flux + Flow Community Dance Center, and the Lincoln Theatre Summer Arts Program. She is also a recent alumnus of the Lincoln Theatre Incubation Program, featured in two coffee table books, and has an article in Columbus Alive’s June 2021 Magazine.
Is there someone in the industry that you point to as your inspiration?
“The three women who have influenced me as a dancer and teacher would have to be DeShona Pepper Robertson, Crystal Michelle Perkins, and Suzan Bradford Kounta. All of these women have taken a chance on me and have molded me into the disciplined, well rounded, and determined artist I am today.”
Is there a teacher or artist who broke down barriers in the dance world who you feel most connected with?
“Ms. DeShona Pepper Roberston, my high school dance teacher, is the person who did that for me. She provided me with an experience that not only highlighted but celebrated black dancers in a body that I could relate to. She was vulnerable and emotional. That shaped me and helped me channel my power as a Black woman, while using dance as the vessel. She reminded me every day that I do not have to look a certain way to be successful but as long as I stay committed, humbled, God fearing, and true to myself, then I can go very far in this world. No matter what I chose to do.”
What is your favorite part about the work that you do?
“I love to see everything come together! There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a student finally get the step that was troubling them or see the vision of your choreography come to life.”
Do you have advice for someone who would like to follow in your footsteps?
“Create your village because it is this village that will be the vessel of your inspiration. It is this village that will keep you feeling whole and keep you moving closer to your dreams. You can’t do it alone!”
We applaud Brianna for her accomplishments both on the stage and in the classroom. She is definitely an inspiration to the kids who are lucky enough to have her for a teacher and mentor.
Dancer Spotlight: Rachael Parini
Photo credit from left to right: Jennifer Zmuda, Kate Luber, and Mena Brunette
During Black History Month, we pay tribute to the Black and Brown trailblazers who have made crucial contributions to the dance world. To reinforce how important these innovators are, we are celebrating the achievements of some of BalletMet’s black voices and the influences that inspired their own journeys.
Today we are spotlighting Rachael Parini. Rae has danced with The American Repertory Ballet, Nashville Ballet and The Washington Ballet. She was a National Merit Scholar, a former intern with the Department of Homeland Security, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs with minors in both Political Science and Italian. She has been with BalletMet since 2016.
Who inspired you to become a dancer?
“I can’t say any one person inspired my career, which, I guess, is a good thing! My parents were incredibly supportive and encouraged my sister and I to pursue our dreams, whatever they were. I had incredible teachers, who pushed me to be my best every day, and created an environment where I could flourish and thrive.”
What is your favorite role you have performed/career highlight thus far?
“I’d have to say, being able to perform William Forythe’s In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated was definitely a career highlight for me! It’s been on my bucket list since I first saw a video clip of it 15 years ago, and it was an honor to have had the opportunity to do it. Second only to that, was having the privilege of being in the wall scape BalletMet commissioned in 2018- I will never forget how I felt, seeing that for the first time!”
In continuing the work, where do you see the most room for growth in the ballet world/what changes would you like to continue to see moving forward?
“I think that, moving forward, it would be amazing to see more inclusivity, and diversity in the ballet world, regarding not just race, but body types. It’s great to be in a company that includes all types of physicality, but that’s definitely not the case everywhere: the ballerina archetype is still very much that of a willowy, waifish woman. I’d love to see that not be the default standard one day. Additionally, ballet has room for story ballets not rooted in Eurocentricity. Nearly all of the full-length ballets are European folklore, or fairy tales. I would love to see a shift in perspective, when it comes to storytelling, even if it’s just a reimagining of the time period.”
We would like to thank Rachael for sharing her thoughts and for her many contributions to her artwork and our organization.
Student Spotlight: Anthony Whitaker
Photo Credit: Jennifer Zmuda
In alignment with our belief that art can inspire change, we are spotlighting and celebrating the achievements and contributions of our black artists throughout February in honor of Black History Month.
Today we are recognizing Anthony Whitaker, a student in our Academy, for his impressive list of achievements in his artistic endeavors to date.
Anthony is 13 years old and first attended classes with BalletMet in the Soar on Saturdays program in the summer of 2017. He has continued his dance education with our Academy and has been studying and growing his artistry over the past 4.5 years.
Anthony answered a few questions for us about his experience:
Is there someone who inspired you to become a dancer?
“Yes. I was inspired by Mr. Alvin Ailey. He inspired me because he was the 1st African American male dancer that I saw and he has his own dance school, which is one of my dreams.”
What is your favorite role you have performed thus far?
“My favorite role so far is a toss-up between a puppet in Don Quixote or Fritz in the Nutcracker.”
Do you have a dream role you’d like to perform?
“Right now, I would have to say my dream role would be the Nutcracker or Cavalier in the Nutcracker.”
Do you want to make dance a career?
“Yes. It is my dream to dance on Broadway as well as open my own dance studio. I also desire to teach dance at my church.”
We would like to thank Anthony and his family for allowing us to share his story. We can’t wait to see all that Anthony accomplishes in his dance career! Bravo Anthony!