5 to Watch 2021: Joelle Kimbrough
Each year, we feature 5 young ballerinas who are on the road to creative success. Due to their growth, hard work, and accomplishments, we’ve kept these girls on our radar, and will continue to look after them as they blossom in their dance careers!
Joelle Kimbrough is 16 years old and has been dancing since she was 3. Her first performance with a professional company was in 2018, at Kansas City Ballet, as a “Party Girl” in Devon Carney's Nutcracker. Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, Joelle is currently training at Oklahoma City Ballet. She is in the pre-professional daytime program studying ballet, pointe, pas de deux, variations, repertoire, ballet history, conditioning, character, modern, contemporary, and jazz.
Continue reading our interview with Joelle below to learn why we named her one of Brown Girls Do Ballet’s 5 to Watch for 2021!
Photo: provided by Joelle Kimbrough
What’s a dance accomplishment that you are proud of and why?
A dance accomplishment that I am proud of is, In 2019 I had a stress fracture in my third metatarsal and I was out for the Spring, Summer, and Fall. I was told by the doctors that because of the way my feet were made that I would not be able to dance anymore because it would be a recurring injury. However, with changing my diet, lots of physical therapy, and research, I found a way to still keep dancing and keep my feet healthy!
What’s your most memorable dance moment?
My most memorable moment was when I was about 7 and my mom took me to see Alvin Ailey. I remember being so mesmerized with their movements and seeing so many strong Brown and Black people on stage. I went to get enrolled in modern dance and my teacher told me that if I wanted to be in Ailey one day that I needed to learn how to do ballet. I ended up falling in love with ballet ever since!
What inspires you?
I would say that my family inspires me because each of them is so resilient and they all have such a strong work ethic and I really respect them for that. I would also have to say Beyoncé inspires me because she works so incredibly hard at her craft to make everything the best it can possibly be, even if it means sacrificing things that are comfortable to be the best. Also, even at the level of success that she is at, she still never forgets where she came from and gives back to the community.
What’s your favorite part about being a dancer or the dance industry in general?
My favorite part about being a dancer is performing. I love the adrenaline that you get from being on stage, the energy of the theatre, and all of the things that dancers do behind the scenes before a show. I also love the idea that you can never be “perfect” at dance or ballet. You are constantly working to be better than yourself every day, so there is always something to improve upon.
If you could change the future of dance, what changes would you make?
I would change the accessibility of dance to becoming more available everywhere, to all economic and social classes. I would love to see ballet and dance be more common in all parts of the world and cities! I want going to see a ballet or a performance to be as common as going to see a movie or a basketball game in the US!
Photo: Brett Pruitt
Joelle starts her day around 5:30 AM. After her schoolwork, she gets ready for ballet and warm-up. For breakfast, Joelle will usually have a quick smoothie and protein bar. She then heads to the dance studio, where she attends about four classes from 9 AM-3 PM. After school, she finishes her homework, has dinner, then winds down with a shower and a stretch. Sometimes, she’ll ice her muscles before going to bed.
This summer, Joelle will attend Summer Intensives with the Oklahoma City Ballet and the Pacific Northwest Ballet. In the meantime, Joelle plans to visit colleges while participating in upcoming Brown Girls Do Ballet projects and other performances. You can follow Joelle’s dance journey here!