Former Ballerina Wants to Expose African Americans to Dance

Aesha Ash, a former professional ballerina, is bringing her passion for dance to low-income communities to show underprivileged children that they can pursue careers in the performing arts, according to indy100.com.

After retiring in 2008, Ash set out on a mission to use her platform to drive social impact. In 2011, she founded the Swan Dreams Project which aims to combat racial and socioeconomic barriers that hinder individuals from pursuing ballet.

“I want to help change the demoralized, objectified and caricatured images of African-American women by showing the world that beauty is not reserved for any particular race or socio-economic background,” Ash said.  According to Data USA, 79.1 percent of dancers and choreographers are white.

Many factors contribute to ballet’s lack of diversity: economic inequality, because ballet training is notoriously expensive; a lack of role models for aspiring dancers to emulate; a failure on the part of schools and companies to provide support for young dancers of color on the uphill road to professional success. Another factor looms large in the discussion: Many believe a thread of racism still runs through the ballet world, according to pointemagazine.com. “There are people who define ballet in a very specific and historic sense and think it should look like the Mariinsky in 1950,” said American Ballet Theatre executive director Rachel Moore.

Representation means something, it is important for little girls of color to know that they can grow up to be the next Misty Copeland, Raven Wilkinson, or Carmen de Lavallade.

Several other organizations throughout the country have been working to change the narrative and expose youth of color to dance. Among some of the organizations: Brown Girls Do Ballet, Kids Dance Outreach, the Dallas Black Dance Theatre, and the American Dance Movement.

“While exposing more African American communities to the ballet, I also hope to promote greater involvement and increase patronage to this beautiful art form,” Ash said.

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CDO Michele Meyer-Shipp Is No Good to Anybody If She Doesn’t Get Her Quiet Time

Featuring a broad cross-section of women who have distinguished themselves across a rich variety of careers, our Portraits of Power series is a celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Black Enterprise, and of black women. It’s a place for today’s businesswomen to share their own favorite images and their own stories, in their own words. Today’s portrait is diversity and inclusion thought leader, strategist, and consultant Michele Meyer-Shipp.

Michele C. Meyer-Shipp

Partner, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, KPMG

Nickname Momma Shipp

My first job was working as a private investigator for a security firm. I was undercover at an electronics store trying to sniff out a thief. Didn’t last long. I made friends with everyone and had trouble sticking to my fake identity details.

My big break came when I was called into a meeting one day and asked to consider leaving my job as an in-house employment attorney to take a new role leading the global diversity and inclusion efforts at my then employer.

I’ve had to work the hardest at learning to say “no” and learning not to take everything personally.

I never imagined I would be a “partner” and C-suite leader who has had the privilege of traveling all over the world and meeting all types of amazing people.

I wish I had learned sooner how to navigate corporate politics and build strategic relationships. I learned the hard way, and fumbled some along the way.

The risk I regret not taking is passing on an awesome job opportunity that would have required me to pick up my family and move across the country.

If I could design my fantasy self-care day, it would be spent at a spa situated on the ocean with lots of windows, boat views, and open air areas. I would begin the day having a light brunch with my mom and two sisters. We would head off to yoga on a breezy terrace, then to have a 90-minute body massage, a back facial, and traditional facial. Finally, some sauna time, followed by an early dinner and relax time at the spa pool overlooking the ocean. Aaaahhh! That’s the life.

Very little keeps me up at night. I generally sleep like a baby but when I am up at night, it is because I am worrying about one of my three young adult sons.

When I’m struggling, I say to myself, leave it in God’s hands. He has a plan and He will show us the way.

I am unapologetically about family time and my personal quiet time! If both are not first priority, I am no good to anybody.

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Portraits of Power is a yearlong series of candid insights from exceptional women leaders. It is brought to you by ADP.

Michele Meyer-Shipp will be a speaker at the 2020 Women of Power Summit, March 5-8 at The Mirage in Las Vegas. Register here to join us!

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