Making an Impact: an Interview with Amanda Morgan
By Faith Carrillo, Brown Girls Do Ballet Ambassador
Ballet is one of the most beloved styles of dance. It is a stunning art form that has a special place in the hearts of many. It is the love of ballet that drives us to carry this art form into the next generation, so more people can enjoy it. This is why it's so important to showcase underrepresented groups and give everyone the chance to shine!
The Ballet world tends to cling onto tradition and shy away from new and modern ideas, even if that means excluding certain communities. Many dancers are working tirelessly to create new spaces and platforms that uplift others and make this art form more inclusive. It is so important for all dancers to speak their mind and to help move the ballet world forward, but it can be very hard to know where to start.
Amanda Morgan, soloist at Pacific Northwest Ballet, choreographer, and creator of The Seattle Project, shared some advice on how to reach out into your own community and how to give visibility to those who feel unseen.
Photo: Amanda Morgan; shot by Dan Lao
What inspired you to create The Seattle Project?
I was inspired to create The Seattle Project when I was 17 years old in the school at Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB). I noticed how, particularly in Seattle, there were all these wonderful places to see dance, but not enough visibility for those spaces. I wanted to find a way to create new work while also bringing artists together who may not always have opportunities to present work in the city. So, The Seattle Project was born, with a mission to collaborate with different types of artists, amplify BIPOC/LGBTQ+ artists’ work, and make the arts accessible for everyone.
Tell us about your choreography. Where do you tend to draw inspiration from?
I started choreographing when I was 21 years old through PNB’s Next Step Program. I loved the feeling of being at the front of the room, and having my voice be heard through a different lens. As an Afro-Indigenous woman, I’m always finding ways to explore my identity and culture. I draw large inspiration from this for my work I create in The Seattle Project.
How do you stay motivated when it comes to creating inclusive environments in an art form that tends to cling onto tradition?
Staying motivated can be hard when it feels like no one is looking out for you. I felt this at times when I was younger, and it's the reason why I helped co-found the Mentorship Program at Pacific Northwest Ballet School during the pandemic. Many times, we just need one person to encourage us, and I had that from older dancers in the company when I first joined.
Photo: Amanda Morgan; shot by Dan Lao
What are some ways for young dancers to reach out and help their communities?
Young dancers can do a lot more than they think to influence the dance community at large. When you hold yourself to certain standards and enter a room being authentically yourself, it allows others to do the same. I’m a strong believer in our next generation. They have the tools and resources that many in my generation did not have. Ask for help when you can and provide it when you can as well. There is always something to learn, and always something that someone can learn from you.
What's your favorite motto, quote, tip, or something you live by?
“If you don’t see what you want to see out there, go and be it. “
Do you have anything else you want to say to the dancers who are reading this article?
Sometimes it just takes you making the first move or step towards something you want. Go for it! The worst that can happen is you don’t get it, but most likely you’ll always grow and learn from the things you went after.
Photo: Amanda Morgan; shot by Dan Lao
What Amanda is doing for the ballet world is truly inspiring. Her hard work and dedication to what she is passionate about has changed the way BIPOC/LGBTQ+ dancers will be perceived in the ballet community forever. She is a wonderful role model to young dancers who want to make a difference! We can all do our part to make ballet a more positive and supportive environment and work together to unify dancers from all backgrounds.