Dancer, Performer, Aerialist and Visual Artist

Danielle and I have been best friends since the 4th grade! We graduated High School in South Florida, but went our separate ways for College. Danielle earned her Bachelor Degree in Sport and Event Management, with a minor in Spanish from Elon University, but the dance bug kept biting.

Since graduating college, Danielle has spent time as a performer on multiple Royal Caribbean ships as both a Dancer and Featured Aerialist. Danielle is now a company member of Company XIV, in Brooklyn New York. 

 After growing up together, we are currently trying to navigating adulthood together in our apartment in Harlem. I vow to Danielle to be a better and more educated ally so her experiences on and off the stage continue to change and equate the same treatment I get as a white woman from Directors, Casting Directors, Stage Management and artistic peers. 

Below Danielle speaks about her most recent contract that was unfortunately put on pause because of Covid-19

“Most people know the story of Adam and Eve... probably through a white lens. Earlier this year I had the most incredible opportunity to change the conversation. When rehearsals started it was clear there were going to be two casts of the show. The other couple playing Adam and Eve are both stunning and incredibly talented! They are also tall, blonde-haired and blue-eyed. During rehearsal race wasn’t a part of the conversation which was completely fine. We all worked our asses off to put an amazing show together in just 5 weeks. When cast A and B were decided, we (my black partner and I) were cast B. I was kind of relieved to not have to open as Eve because I was physically exhausted and my ensemble track was much easier. Then the reviews came in. “Talented artists!” “Stunning costumes and lighting!” “Another white-washed story about human creation”.  Our audiences left was dazzled and amazed but still hungry for more. On the contrary, when cast B had their opening weekend the post-show conversations were quite different. I met several patrons who were in tears and couldn’t believe they just saw a show with not one, but two black principal dancers. To have Misty Copeland and other black artists in the audience while two, talented black bodies directed the narrative about humanity, not about slavery or civil rights, just about being human was an absolute dream. It speaks volumes about how far we’ve come but good lord do we have a lot further to go. .

As artists, we have the power to start conversation and open doors for new possibilities. And to those who say they don’t see color, here’s why that’s problematic. It erases the dynamic and rich cultures of POC. It turns a blind eye to the daily struggle of black bodies in this country. Since I was a little girl, my parents reminded me that I had to work twice as hard to get half as far as my white counterparts. When I was 14, my ballet teacher encouraged me try modern dance because it was better suited for my body-type. My 7th grade boyfriend broke up with me because I was black (he literally said that in 2007 via AIM). My college roommate asked if I speak differently when I’m around other black people. Some of my best friends get uncomfortable when I point out that I’m the only black person in the room or talk about race. And to the people that I haven’t talked to in years that are reaching out to me now that “black lives matter” to see how I’m doing; I appreciate the sentiment but where were you in October for my birthday? Or in November when I had my first panic attack? Please don’t call me or text me to have conversations about race. Have those conversations with the people you interact with on a daily basis. I’m tired. No, I’m not ok but I have my support system and this is not this first time I’m dealing with racism in America."

As Danielle’s best friend/ roommate, I wanted to quiz myself and see if I could answer these questions myself! We spend lots of time binge watching and ordering Seamless in New York so I was proud of my (almost) perfect score!

What is your favorite TV show to binge watch?

• Chef’s Table

What is your favorite comfort food

•  Panang curry with sticky rice

Your favorite song to sing in the shower?

• I will always love you ( Honestly love listening to her sing this when she showers!!)

Your favorite color to wear?

• White

One thing that’s always in your bag?

• Sunglasses

What is your favorite style of dance to dance 

• Contemporary