Variation En Hue Partnership

A Quincy Wilson Project

As a dancer, I have always been told to wear suntan or pale-colored tights. Whether it is studio dance or the school dance team, my black friends and I are required to conform to the skin tone of our white peers, wearing what best suits them and their skin color. On my high school dance team last year, where I was the only black dancer, my coach gave me the chance to wear tights that matched my skin color just like everyone else. I was so happy to wear accessories that matched me finally, but oftentimes my white peers would tease me and say that the tights looked "weird "or "not normal." This deeply upset me because why is it weird when I'm wearing tights and shoes that match the color of my skin, but it is normal for my white teammates? That is why I decided to start this project - to change the perspective of the dance world. I believe black and brown dancers should be able to have equal opportunities to wear accessories and costumes that not only match but accentuate our skin tone.  I want other dancers like me to be comfortable and happy in their skin, both on and off stage, by promoting self-confidence and erasing the mindset that we should "blend in" with the rest.

In an effort to recognize the variations in YOU, I have partnered with Brown Girls Do Ballet®️ to create Variation En Hue.  I hope that you will join us in outfitting brown dancers in flesh tone tights and shoes so that they may stand out and not blend in. Please consider donating new or gently used flesh tone tights as well as ballet or jazz shoes to be distributed to dancers in need. To complete the look, I will also accept gently used ballet and jazz costumes. I will also accept any surplus from dancewear stores.

I dance at Birmingham Dance Theatre, and I am happy to announce that the studio has changed its policy on the traditional suntan tights.

Please send all *donations to the address listed below.  For any inquiries, please contact me, Quincy Wilson at variationenhue@gmail.com  or find me on Instagram @variationenhue

Variation en Hue

P.O. Box 59748

Birmingham, AL  35259-9748

*For monetary donations please make checks payable to Brown Girls Do Inc with VEH in the FOR line.