Brown Ballerina Advice: Janine Beckles on Teaching Dance, Self-Acceptance, and Dancing for the Love of It
In honor of Black History Month last month, we launched our Brown Ballerina Advice Series, where we featured experienced dancers of color from various backgrounds and industries. In each interview, dancers offered their wisdom and insight on dance-related topics ranging from career journeys, traveling, motivation, health, and more.
As we dive into Women’s History Month, this week’s featured dancer is Janine Beckles. Janine is a principal dancer and the Assistant to the Artistic Director at the Philadelphia Dance Company. In her interview, Janine shared tons of wisdom about teaching dance as a career, her experiences as a professional dancer, and how to dance for your own happiness.
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Photo: Janine Beckles; shot by Julieanne Harris
Loving, Learning, and Teaching Dance
Q: When did you fall in love with dance? Did you always know you wanted to make a career out of it?
A: I fell in love with dance at the age of 6 years old after doing auditions for Dance Theatre of Harlem’s school admission. I never danced before, and after my twin sister and I were accepted into the school on scholarship, I knew this was where I needed to be. Taking class was always a joy and regardless of how tired I would be, I knew I could make living from dancing.
It wasn’t until I went to LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts when I knew I could make a career out of being a dancer. I had dreams of being an entertainment lawyer and dancing would be what I did on the side. I was exposed to so much dance from being at the Ailey School and LaGuardia High School. I saw performances every weekend and I knew this is what I wanted to do for my career.
Q: What led you to begin teaching dance?
A: I started assistant teaching while I was at the Ailey school on scholarship. I love being able to help students grasp new movement phrases. While I was at Southern Methodist University, I taught non-majors modern classes and I knew teaching was as important as dancing on stage. Performing and teaching give me joy and I wouldn’t want to do one without the other. I became a better artist through teaching because I understand my body and how the technique can enhance one’s quality of movement. Things made more sense to me while I was on stage because I started to apply corrections I gave my students in ballet or Graham technique classes.
Q: What career advice would you give to a dancer who hopes to become a professional dance teacher?
A: Being a performer and a teacher can go hand in hand. It’s an asset to be able to both because it can lead to other opportunities. While performing on tour with Philadanco, I usually conduct Masterclasses on behalf of the company. This is the perfect way to create a network and create working relationships with studios, colleges, and universities. They can take the class and it can lead to other teaching opportunities later on.
Q: As a professional dance teacher, what’s something you notice a lot of dancers struggle with? What advice do you have for them?
A: Things dancers struggle with is acceptance. Students are concerned with what their peers are doing. The only comparison a dancer should have is with oneself. Young dancers are also concerned with instant gratification and wanting to do technical feats their bodies aren’t ready for. The teachers will always guide you in the right direction, so take what the teachers say to heart. Hard work will also achieve the results they want. If they focus on themselves, their journey through dance will be a much easier route.
My advice is to have a more positive outlook and not to be so hard on yourself. Consistency is the key to do anything to the best of one’s abilities.
The Life of a Professional Dancer
Q: What role does your college education play in your dance career today?
A: I have a BFA in Dance Performance and a BA in Sociology from Southern Methodist University. I am currently a first-year MBA student with a concentration in Leadership from Southern New Hampshire University.
My BFA prepared me for my life as a dancer within a company. My BA gave me a better understanding of the structure and social factors within the dance world and how organizations operate. After graduation from my MBA program, I will become a more effective leader within a dance organization. I am currently Assistant to the Artistic Director, Kim Bears-Bailey, here at Philadanco. I ultimately want to become an Executive Director of a large dance organization while aiding other women of color in executive or leadership roles.
Q: As a professional dancer, what is something you often struggle with? How do you overcome this challenge?
A: On a daily basis, I struggle with finding balance with being a professional dancer and everything else I have going on in my life. I do not have a lot of downtime or days off due to touring. When I’m not performing, I used to teach in my free time, so I miss out on seeing family and friends. I now schedule my teaching on certain periods so I can have a vacation. I know the importance of family and now I invite my family to visit me when I teach in Vegas every summer. I find ways to make my schedule work for me and not against me.
Q: How has being a dancer of color shaped your dance journey?
A: Being a dancer of color I will never take for granted. I was blessed to attend institutions that nurtured my artistic growth. Growing up in New York, I was exposed early on to many Black dance artists through going to performances for Dance Theatre of Harlem and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. I saw dancers who looked like me on stage and I was encouraged about being a performer.
It wasn’t until I went to Southern Methodist University that I felt like an outsider. There were very few Black dance majors and I always had to prove to them I could do more than modern dance but I was very strong in ballet. I was placed in the higher level ballet classes but never given the opportunity to perform a ballet piece during my four years. I was type casted as the modern dancer and always featured in every modern dance piece.
I was dealing with self-doubt and anger towards the dance department. I became more focused and determined to become a professional dancer. I am no longer concerned about how others perceive me or my talent. I strive to do my best at all times and I was accepted into companies who nurtured me as a person and performer. I never allowed people or a place to make me feel less than. I have loved my dance journey so far and I still have more to go.
Dancing for the Love of It
Q: What's your favorite mantra or affirmation?
A: My rehearsal director here at Philadanco, Debbie Chase-Hicks, told me this and it is my go-to saying: ‘Change your head and change your costume.’ Whenever I’m performing in multiple pieces of choreography in the same program I have to create a new character for each piece. The goal is to perform differently and with a new intent.
Another one I like is, ‘Nothing to prove and everything to share.’ This quote was originally created by my favorite choreographer, Ulysses Dove. I do not dance for other people’s approval. I dance for the love of it. I enjoy being onstage, becoming someone else and letting my emotions flow.
Q: Do you have any other advice you’d like to share?
A: Find what makes you happy!
Janine was a National Foundation of the Arts award recipient in Modern Dance in 2000. She is a member of Dancers Amplified, a global, artist-led alliance of dancers in activism united in empowering individuals, projects, and organizations in the fight for social justice in dance. Janine is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Follow Janine on Instagram to stay in touch!
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