Does anyone know anything about Artistry Youth Dance?

[Katymac]

Has anyone heard anything about this http://www.artistryyouthdance.com/ ?

 

DD was given a flyer at Move-it & I wondered if anyone knew any more...

[artistryyouthdance]

Hi Katymac!

 

Artistry Youth Dance (AYD) is a brand new youth dance company for dancers of African and Caribbean descent, aged 14-19 years. We specialise in Jazz and Contemporary dance but our dancers will also have regular classes in ballet. The programme is designed for our dancers to experience what it might be like to be in a company,  with regular company class and rehearsals to be held every Sunday in Islington, London. I would be happy to answer any questions, queries, or concerns that you have about AYD, the teachers, or anything else, so that you can feel more comfortable about sending your daughter to our auditions. Please send me a post, or alternatively email me at info@artistryyouthdance.com. I look forward to hearing from you!  

[Julie 2 Milner]

I have a question and I really don't mean this to be argumentative. I've always wondered the same about Ballet Black. How can one set up companies for a specific ethnicity? Does this not break all our race laws? Can you imagine the outcry, quite rightly if a youth company was set up for those only of Anglo Saxon descent. It is something I just do not understand., both legally, and why? I do understand wanting to encourage youngsters but companies based on colour and background seems a huge step back. I know Ballet Black felt it was the only way some of their dancers would get work but again to be barred from a company for being white?

 

So please do not take this as an invitation for arguments or an attack on any company but just a genuine, puzzled enquiry. Just how is it legal?

[Katymac]

Julie - that was one of my concerns - given that DD is mixed race; positive discrimination is something we haven't covered yet emotionally (although the possibility of a mixed race von trapp sibling has caused great family hilarity.......esp in such a 'blonde' area as Norfolk!)

 

I know that for health & social care there are valid reasons for targetting particular ethnic groupings; and I also know often funding streams require specific sectors of the population to be targeted.

 

 

Artistryyouthdance - Thanks for answering - I didn't realise how new you were and was looking for people who had attended/auditioned already.  DD is quite vulnerable atm due to a variety of circumstances & I'm not sure what & where is appropriate for her to proceed; hearing someone views on attending might have decided me one way or another about attending.  But as you are new that isn't possible; realistically given the distance dd might not audition at the moment......but we will keep an eye out for next time.

 

[Julie 2 Milner]

Katymac a while back I had just this discussion with my nieces, mixed race. My son loves Alvin Ailey and we were joking about whether he could ever get into the company given he is very fair. That led on to Ballet Black and how it is allowed. He has worked with the director when he did Kent Youth Ballet. Interestingly 2 of my nieces thought positive descrimination was wrong the other felt it was great. I'm uncomfortable with the idea.

 

If you are looking for something extra for your daughter English Youth Ballet is something to consider if they are near you. Or National Youth Ballet though I think that has a very southern bias.

 

good luck.

[Katymac]

It is tricky isn't it - 'discrimination' on the ground of race whether positive or negative is very emotive

 

They aren't really our way (at least not as far as I can read on the websites) or the auditions are over - but thank you for the suggestion I'll look next year

[if only!]

Very interesting point about Ballet Black. DD loves their contemporary style of ballet but she has said she would never be able to get into their company because of her colour yet her cousin could (not that her cousin wants to dance at all but...) and (this is a 13 year old mind working) you could never have a Ballet White because it wouldn't be right. And she's right. But Ballet Black isn't really discriminative, as ballet, particularly classical, is predominantly white, so maybe it's ok?  I agree with you Julie, I'm puzzled too!

 

Katymac, loved your 'blonde' Norfolk! Suffolk's a bit like that too!

[Katymac]

DD is loving dancing with Artistry & we went to see Ballet Black at the weekend and it was fantastic

[Peach3]

Don't want to get into a big disscussion about race but I remember reading Ballet Black had been set up not just to give dancers of black, asian and mixed heritage employment but also to inspire and encourage the next generation of dancers and in turn the next and the next. I read in an interview that the founder hoped in x amount of years there would be no need for such a company. As it turns out they are utterly brilliant and it would be a shame if they disbanded because they felt they were no longer needed. Best of all they seem to be accomplishing the job they were set up to do. It is easy to under estimate what it means to a small child (black or white) to see someone on the stage who looks like them achieving their dreams. There just weren't and probably still aren't enough black, asian or mixed heritage ballerinas but hopefully Ballet Black are helping little boys and girls realise that anything is possible if you work hard enough.