How to celebrate pride

Happy Pride Month! Pride Month is a colourful, empowering celebration to honour the 1969 Stonewall Riots Manhattan, which were a series of events between police and LGBTQ+ protests which took place over six days.

It is a time where individuals from different sexual orientations and gender identities come together and stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community. It raises awareness of the current issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community and that there is still so much more to be done.

Showing support to the different communities in the dance world is so important to us here at Move Dance. Freedom to express your true self is one of the many reasons why we love this industry. You can even express yourself through your favourite dance leotard and dance costume! 

We had a chat with one of our Move Dance ambassadors Cleo Khan who is currently studying dance at Preston College about her experiences being part of the LGBTQ+ community in the dance world✨⁠

What does Pride month mean to you?

A celebration of self expression and love in all forms. It’s kind of like dance in that way. 

Are there any specific challenges you have faced being part of the LGBTQ+ community as a dancer?

When I first got together with my current partner, I remember there being rumours and whispers being spread in what was usually my safe space; the studio, making me feel insecure and uncomfortable. However once people heard it from me I couldn’t have asked for a better support system from my classmates. At the end of the year me and my girlfriend were even voted best couple in our own student awards which was a massively pivotal moment.

Do you feel like there are still issues and challenges the LGBTQ+ community faces in the dance industry or in our society in general?

I still feel there are issues that arise however, I am in a fortunate enough position for it not to directly affect me as I have an encouraging network of people around me. However, some of my LGBTQ+ friends in the industry have experienced name calling, bullying and isolation. Seeing how the actions of others can affect somebody really puts into perspective what consequences a person has on another being.

What has your journey been like on acceptance, has it shaped who you are as a dancer?

Thorough acceptance within others and most importantly myself, as a dancer I now understand the deeper connection as I experience love. I use it in my dancing giving my work a more sophisticated, natural and mature tone to it.

What advice would you give LGBTQ+ dancers who feel isolated or like they don't fit in?

Try to surround yourself with people who will support and love you. Remember it’s okay to feel different that what makes us an individual and you would be surprised that sometimes once one person comes out, it creates a domino affect and makes others feel as though they can open up too. 

What is something the dance industry can contribute positively to supporting Pride Month / LGBTQ+ individuals?

I’m my opinion there isn’t enough representation. I am therefore making it my responsibility publicise extensive inclusivity.

 Having dance companies like Move Dancewear that openly support the LGBTQ+ community, is a great step to creating a more welcoming and diverse community.

To add, stereotypically, male and female dancers carry a love story line, but very rarely I will ever see one between two females. I think this would be a refreshing take on a modern love story. 

Ways you can celebrate Pride Month:

1. Educate yourself
2. Attend a Pride event
3. Be an ally all year round
4. Volunteer or donate to a LGBTQ+ charity
5. Spread the word!

There are many wonderful, inspiring dancers who are part of the LGBTQ+ community, here are some we think you should check out:

Adriana Peirce

Adriana Pierce (she/her) is a dancer, choreographer, and director based in New York City. After training at School of American Ballet, Pierce began her dancing career with New York City Ballet and Miami City Ballet.The lack of lesbian representation in ballet led Pierce to start #QueerTheBallet, an initiative with the mission to widen the scope of classical ballet by producing queer work by queer dance artists. Learn more about the movement here.

Miriam Miller and Devon Teuscher in I AM ENOUGH - choregraphed by Adriana Peirce 

Katy Pyle

Katy Pyle is an gender queer lesbian American ballet dancer and choreographer. Katy left home at 14 to study full-time in the ballet at North Carolina School of the Arts. Pyle then attended Hollins University graduating with a BA in Multimedia Performance Art. She went on to create Ballez in 2011 a company made to break the hierarchical history of ballet, offering classes that strive to re-imagine what ballet can be and who it can be for. Check out Ballez here.

Jayna Ledford

Jayna Ledford is a transgender ballerina, who started ballet at the age of 5. She came out as trans while on a full “male” scholarship at the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, DC. Unfortunately Janya lost her scholarship, however that didn’t stop her as she took a year off to train fully as a female dancer and master her technique on pointe. She is now attending Montclair State University where she dances and is a science major. Among both, she is also an LGBTQ+ advocate and celebrates her Filipino culture. She acts as a support to all aspiring trans dancers and has had the support of many famous dancers.

For more information and support here are few charities you can follow/donate to show your support:

@lgbtfdn

@mindoutlgbtq

@stonewalluk

Happy Pride Month have a good one!!

To be inspired further take a look at our International Dance Day Interview with brand ambassador Layla Terr about Women In The Dance Industry

Move Dance xx

23/06/23