Whether on a stage, in the audience, online, or with your friends: dance is everywhere! Want to learn about gender equality through dance? Curious about using movement to establish your boundaries and build confidence? Interested in a career in dance? Girl Up's Sports for a Purpose is hosting a free, virtual event on the power of dance, bringing together leaders and advocates around the world!

Did you know?

• In 2022, women comprised 32% of resident choreographers and men comprised 68% (Dance Data Project.)

• In the arts, women make $20,000 less than their male counterparts annually (Strategic National Arts Alumni Project.)

• Historically, professional dance has enforced traditional notions of gender, which can limit dancers' physical and emotional abilities (Medium.)

• Girls outnumber boys 20-to-1 in ballet classes. Despite that, women are vastly underrepresented in positions of leadership (like artistic directors and choreographers) in the dance industry (Dance Data Project.)

During this bootcamp, you can expect to connect with other global girl leaders, learn more about gender equality in dance, and participate in a confidence-building activity.

The Girl Up Sports for a Purpose Bootcamp will run from 10:00 AM - 12 PM EST in an interactive, virtual format. The event content is mostly geared toward young leaders ages 13-24. The event is open to self-identified girls – cis or trans – and individuals who identify as gender queer, fluid, non-conforming, non-binary, as well as agender, in transition, and/or questioning their gender identity.

Join us at this Sports Bootcamp to turn your passion into action!

Please e-mail any questions to hbradshaw@girlup.org.

About Girl Up

No matter their background, girls have the power to transform themselves, their communities, and the world around them. Girl Up is a global movement of empowered young women leaders who defend gender equality. Through leadership development training, Girl Up gives girls the resources and platform to start a movement for social change wherever they are. For those who stand with us in this movement, there is no rest until we achieve equal rights for every girl. Because when girls rise, we all rise.

Girl Up was founded by the United Nations Foundation in 2010 and continues to work across a global community of partners to achieve gender equality worldwide.

For Girl Up's Safety and Security Policies; please refer to the following link:

https://community.girlup.org/page/safety-security?lang=en

or decades the prominent image of a ballet dancer has been a white body with pale clothing. It took 75 years for American Ballet Theatre to have its first African American female principal dancer, Misty Copeland. When TaKiyah Wallace-McMillian went to enroll her three-year-old daughter into her first ballet class, she immediately saw this lack of diversity and representation—even on her local dance studio’s website. Within weeks TaKiyah, a freelance photographer, began shooting a project she called Brown Girls Do Ballet, which eventually became an Instagram hit and a nonprofit organization that provides resources, mentorship, inspiration, and encouragement to young dancers of color worldwide.

For her first book, The Color of Dance, TaKiyah traveled around the United States seeking out dancers of African, Asian, East Indian, Hispanic, and Native American ancestry. With these more than 190 breathtaking images of colorful ballerinas of all ages and levels, both amateur and professional, TaKiyah gives a voice to dancers who have been underrepresented for too long.

With dozens of quotes throughout from ballerinas themselves, The Color of Dance redefines what this classically Eurocentric art form has looked like for centuries and will inspire dancers—and all of us—to pursue our dreams no matter what barriers are put in front of us.

Join Ambassador Addison for a FREE community ballet class, ages 4 to 8, sponsored by Brown Girls Do Ballet!

Location at the Connex Office Park, 1201 Evans Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76104.

The PUSH Pro Experience is a full day of dance dopeness, master classes, audition tips and tricks and Pro Panel featuring a thriving staff that will PUSH your limits through their own experiences and talents.

Are you ready to break into the industry? Having fears about auditioning? Have you auditioned but can't understand why you haven't booked? Questions about the best steps to start your career? Then this experience is for you!

Master Class 1: Intermediate Hip Hop taught by Celine "Boom" Edmondson @_ohitsboom

She is the definition of an EDUCATOR. She’s not just teaching class, she’s teaching heart. That dance is not just movement … it’s intention. Celine taps into the history of social dance that has now transformed into the movement we know to today as hip hop. She hones in on the importance of freestyling and performance quality.

Master Class 2: Advanced/Beg Commercial Jazz taught by Asha Singh @asha.v.singh

Asha is a master of musicality and inserting your own personality into the movement. She also focused heavily on the importance of understanding transferring your weight! Her class will tap into the different ways to hit clean shapes while continuing to make the movement full out.

Audition Mentality Prep: MOCK Audition led by Criscia Long @criscialong, Asha Singh @asha.v.singh, Shenay Rivers @shenayunique

We tap into all the mental stresses that may arise during the audition process. We create a safe space for dancers to release the fears they may have in front of casting directors, and we give guidance on how to overcome these fears and focus on being the best version of themselves.

Panel:

We will have an open forum with all PUSH Pro staff plus *Special guests* for all dancers to ask questions about our personal experiences to help guide them in their dance journeys.

Give 8/28 builds on the momentum created by Black Philanthropy Month with one concentrated day of giving for Black nonprofits, which leverages online fundraising tools in order to tap into the enthusiasm of the 21st Century philanthropist.

Consider supporting Brown Girls Do Inc on this Give 828!

Join Us!

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

10:00 am - Brunch Bites & "Dance...In Color" Exhibit Viewing

11:00 am - Storytime & Photos w/a Brown Ballerina

11:45 am - Ballet Performance

12:00 pm - "Dear Brown Girl" Short Film Screening & Panel Discussion/Q&A

"Dance...In Color" is a collection of images by photographer Keda Sharber that depict the strength, beauty, athleticism, and artistry of ballerinas and contemporary dancers of color in Houston and beyond. Each image is reflection of the greatness that we hold individually and collectively that challenges us to dream as big as we dare.

Keda Sharber is a Houston-based storyteller who uses photography, film and the written/spoken word to investigate and reveal the beautifully complex truths of the Black community. Her work shows us that we are so much more than what others have deemed possible.

The mission of Brown Girls Do Ballet® is to help increase participation of underrepresented populations in ballet programs through organizing and arranging ballet performances, photo exhibitions, and providing resources and scholarships to assist young girls in their ballet development and training.

The mission of Harris County Cultural Arts Center is to increase arts access for underserved communities and to preserve, share, and celebrate the histories and cultures of Black and LatinX people.

RSVP HERE

Sign up to find out more information and to possibly be included in your cities photo shoot.

for more information click here

North Texas Giving Day is Communities Foundation of Texas' annual 18-hour online giving extravaganza for North Texas nonprofits that is powered by creative nonprofits, social media activism, area wide collaboration, and of course you!

North Texas Giving Day's goal is to help build awareness and support for nonprofits in the North Texas region.

Please consider selecting Brown Girls Do Inc this year so that we can continue to provide the support to young dancers that you have come to know and love.

Visit: https://northtexasgivingday.org/ to give

Dallas!! Come on out and help us give back to Houston in the wake of Hurricane Harvey this Sunday, September 3pm-5pm at Park Cities Studios with Alicia Graf Mack and D(n)A Arts. Alicia will be leading a master class to raise funds and gather much needed items for those who have been affected by the storm. JOIN US! If you can't make it but would still like to help out, please send donations through Brown Girls Do Ballet's Amazon Wishlist or to the Greater Houston Community Foundation. Let's honor #thegiveback!

#BrownGirlsDoBallet Friday, June 30th at Pass Thru Gallery

Created in 2012, the Brown Girls Do Ballet® Photo Project was the catalyst of the world renowned Brown Girls Do Ballet movement. Brown Girls Do Ballet® now offers support and resources to young ballerinas of color and through mentorship and imagery, provides a safe space for girls who don't often see themselves in their art. In 2015 the Brown Girls Do Ballet® Photo Project became a traveling exhibition. Pass Thru Gallery is excited to have the Brown Girls Do Ballet® Photo Project in it's permanent collection. Artist talk and reception with photographer TaKiyah Wallace will be held on Friday June 30th 7pm-9pm

Muhammad School of Music
Voice of My Heart Recital Series Presents... Ballerina Amirah Muhammad as 'The Black Swan'

An Afternoon of Ballet & Classical Music featuring
Amirah, Pre Professional Ballerina Ambassador for Brown Girls Do Ballet Inc.

with Maestro Henri Star
and the Muhammad School of Music Chamber Players
Sunday, May 7, 2017 at 3 pm
The Market Arcade Atrium
617 Main Street, Buffalo, New York 14203

Event Tickets $35 VIP $55

All proceeds support Amirah's
2017 Ballet Summer Intensive Training at American Ballet Theatre in New York City
For more information on hotel, sponsoring the event, tickets & group sales contact:
Henri Star
Muhammad School of Music
617 Main Street, Suite 105
Buffalo, New York 14203

Website: www.gofundme.com/amirahballerinaNYC2017