What Janet Collins Taught Us About Integrity and Abundance
Before Janet Collins became the first Black prima ballerina with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet, she declined an offer to dance with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo.
When she was 15, the company offered to hire Janet as long as she disguised her race by painting her face white for performances. Instead of agreeing to those conditions, Janet decided to seek a company that would judge her based on her talent - not her race. Imagine how hard it must’ve been to make that decision, turning down what could have easily felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Janet. Still, she declined it!
When we are faced with difficult decisions, our choices often come down to what aligns with our integrity. Integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. Your integrity is what defines what sits well with you and what doesn’t. It didn’t sit well with Janet to hide her race from the world as she shared her talent. She wanted to be accepted for being herself.
A lesson we can learn from Janet is that it’s okay to reject things that reject you. Define your morals and uphold them, especially in the dance industry.
Another lesson Janet Collins taught us is to never be afraid to pass on an opportunity due to the concern that you won’t get another one like it. Having a mindset of abundance is all about trusting that there will be more opportunities for you. Believing in abundance means allowing yourself to let go of things not meant for you, even when they feel once-in-a-lifetime. Despite declining the offer with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, Janet Collins’ career continued to flourish.
After joining the Corps de Ballet in 1951, Janet made her professional ballet debut with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet, performing the lead role in the opera Aida. The performance was the first time the Metropolitan Opera Ballet featured a Black dancer. Janet went on to tour the U.S. and Canada in solo dance performances and teach dance classes, sharing her talents and paving the way for other Black ballerinas until she retired in 1974.
Defining and Maintaining Your Integrity
The choices we make are a great responsibility. As a dancer, you’re likely always faced with choices, some of which are career-defining and difficult to make. When we need help making choices, we have to consult with our integrity.
To define your integrity, you must define your principles. Ask yourself the following questions:
What is my mission statement?
What do I stand for?
What things are important to my family and culture?
What impression do I want to make?
What legacy will I leave behind?
Upholding your integrity is all about checking in with yourself often. When faced with a difficult decision, ask yourself the following questions:
Does this feel right, right now?
Will this sit well with me in the future?
Which option aligns best with my principles?
Which option fulfills my needs and desires?
Which option feels best suited for the legacy I want to leave behind?
Affirmations for Abundance
Maintaining a mindset of abundance, or the belief that there will always be another opportunity, is tough - especially for dancers. In reality, some opportunities are once-in-a-lifetime. Age, money, health, and other factors play a role in limiting the opportunities that come our way. However, nurturing your abundant mindset can come in handy when you are faced with decisions that compromise your integrity.
Use these affirmations for abundance when you are at risk of settling for less than what you know you’re capable of. Repeat them to yourself when you need the courage to decline something that would be damaging to your confidence and your pride, just like Janet Collins declined the opportunity with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo.
I am open to new possibilities.
I trust my journey.
What’s meant for me will feel good to my soul.
There is enough success to go around.
I am worthy of opportunities that feed my true purpose.
Related: Positive Affirmations for Dancers
Upholding your integrity and practicing abundance can not only help you navigate through issues in the dance world, but also in other areas of your life. Never compromise who you are for what feels like a good opportunity. Of course, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t accept constructive criticism, even when it’s tough to hear. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t seek to improve yourself and evolve. It means that if you can’t be your best self and get the opportunity, then the opportunity is not for you.
Janet Collins was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on March 7, 1917. She was raised in Los Angeles, where she studied ballet, gaining enough skill to audition for the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo at age 15 - an opportunity she declined after being asked to disguise her race. Janet went on to become the first Black Prima ballerina for the Metropolitan Opera Ballet. Janet was a talented ballet teacher, choreographer, and designer. She died on May 28, 2003, at the age of 86.
Happy Black History Month! Brown Girls Do Ballet is featuring 28 Days of Dance on Instagram. Every day this month, we will feature a Black dancer who has made great strides in dance history, paving the way for Black ballerinas today. Follow us on Instagram so you don’t miss out!