Brown Girls Do Ballet 2021 Highlights
2021 was a remarkable year for Brown Girls Do Ballet. Numerous dancers received support. Several studios received financial resources and supplies. Countless pairs of pointe shoes were provided to dancers in need. The Brown Ballerina Road Trip was bigger and better than it's ever been. We were able to award dancers with college scholarships, small studio grants, micro-grants, and more. Additionally, a new scholarship, the Tiny Dancer Scholarship, was created.
“This year has been by far our most fruitful year,” said TaKiyah, in an Instagram live video with Board Chair Amber Cabral. “I think we’ve been able to do some great things this year - the kind of things that I want to sustain forever.” In the video, the ladies were joined by an enormous Bella-themed cake as they celebrated the Brown Girls Do Ballet Photo Project’s 9th birthday, discussed 2021’s highlights, and shared a few goals for 2022.
Brown Girls Do Ballet’s Bella cake, created by A Cake Maker LLC
“There is nothing that we can do without you,” said TaKiyah, addressing the viewers. “You don’t have to donate, but your sheer presence is what allows other people to know that we are here, and then the people that can donate find us, and do.” Almost all of the scholarships and initiatives created by the organization stem from suggestions offered by members of the Brown Girls Do Ballet community.
TaKiyah also personally thanked the following organizations for their investments, partnerships, and other support that led to 2021’s success:
Tieks
Golden Goose
Athleta
DanceBody
Janie and Jack
Fathead
The Tutu School
“We the Culture” by Facebook/Meta
“I know that a lot of these companies sometimes are caught up in other controversies and people have some opinions about them, but one of the things that you don’t always see and hear about is the good that these organizations are doing,” said Amber. “A lot of these dollars that these organizations have committed to investing, they are investing in making an impact.”
Related: Brown Girls Do Ballet's 2021 Summer Recap
TaKiyah has some big things planned from 2022. In the video, she dropped hints about upcoming ballet programs in schools, supporting more studios, and other ways to “meet dancers where they are.” She reflects on the conversations she’s had with dancers who face difficult challenges in different aspects of their lives. Although Brown Girls Do Ballet is centered around helping dancers, the impact goes beyond the studio and stage.
“It really is bigger than ballet,” said TaKiyah. “It is about giving every girl the opportunity to pursue something she loves.”