I grew up dancing my whole life. Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, my dance career started with ballet. As one of the only dancers of color in my studio, I always felt out of place in the white world of classical dance. Transitioning into hip-hop is when I blossomed into myself as a performer and person. The transition wasn’t easy, but my first hip-hop crew, M.A.D. Skillz Dance Company founded by Winston Strickland, taught me how big an impact one can have being a part of a strongly-bonded dance community.

Upon starting college at Cornell University, I joined two relatively competitive dance teams. I noticed how many people wanted to join those dance communities but were being denied that opportunity because they lacked the skill set. Despite my lack of hip-hop foundation early on, M.A.D. Skillz gave me the opportunity to grow as a member of their crew and that’s what shaped so much of my life. That fueled my belief that people should not be turned away from dance communities just because they were beginner dancers.

So I started a team, the Assorted Aces, to fill the gap in my campus’s dance community. After a successful four years with Aces, I saw that people didn’t want to leave the community just because they had graduated. So I started ADC initially as a means for Aces graduates to continue dancing together. But now, I want it to be a safe space for all beginner dancers, choreographers, and dance teachers to be a part of a strong dance community and even a performing/competing dance team if that interests them! I’ve seen first hand that if given the opportunity, anyone can dance.

I feel like the truest version of me when I dance. Music is something that has been a part of me since as long as I could remember - from the dusty streets of Lomé, Togo to the dance studios at Deerfield Academy, and eventually the Cornell campus and beyond, I’ve always found my biggest joys dancing in the company of others. I love the community that comes out of dance spaces, the energy that fills the room, the rush that it fills me with afterwards - all of it. I can transform into a million versions of myself through dance and all of them are me.

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I want people to feel that same sense of community and belonging and love of dance in as many ways as possible. I want dance to be as accessible as possible to people no matter their skill level, experience or doubts. We are constantly evolving creatures, we owe it to ourselves to continue to try new things, meet new people and just enjoy being in our bodies!

I started dancing with the Assorted Aces in my first year of undergrad as a part of staying active. As I grew and progressed in my dance journey, my hobby has turned into a medium through which I can express myself and a way of finding and building community. It has allowed me to connect with other people in the spaces I’ve moved through and to be inspired by them to push myself and grow further.

As a new graduate, I initially joined as a natural continuation of my tenure on Aces, but now I’m proud to be a part of ADC to build a larger dance community that can train dancers and help people grow, regardless of where they are in their dance journey or where they are physically. Finding a welcoming and friendly dance community can be intimidating, and I’m excited to support ADC in its mission to bring the support I experienced as a member of Aces to people who are interested in learning to dance or improving their skills. I find it important that people who don’t have direct in-person access to a dance community can find ways to connect with others through a medium they’re passionate about.

I grew up dancing, and I knew when I got to college that I wanted to start again just as a way to stay active, but being a part of the dance community at Cornell and a member of Assorted Aces made me realize that it not only did I love performing and dancing with friends, but that dance could be a creative outlet, a form of communication, and a way to challenge myself and continue to grow. When I joined Aces, I was really lacking in my foundations, and the people on that team brought me up. I’m still so grateful for everyone who helped train me and teach me how to choreograph and lead a team, and they helped me learn that not only do I love dance, but I love teaching others how to dance, too.

The mission of Aces, to provide anyone of any skill level with a space to learn how to dance, really resonated with me as I graduated and moved away from my dance community. I met other people who were in a similar spot to me before I joined Aces: they wanted to dance, they wanted to learn, but they just didn’t know where or who to go to. Through ADC I want to reach those people who want to have dance in their lives but don’t know where to begin, and provide them with a safe space and a supportive community to learn and grow as dancers.

I happened to join Aces, the club that would eventually grow into ADC, my first year of Cornell; although I had no prior dance experience, I really appreciated how they welcomed and encouraged beginner dancers, and how dance creates such a tight-knit community that I felt honored to be a part of. When I dance, it reminds me of this community and brings me joy.

I am grateful that ADC builds on the original mission of Aces, to create a space where "anyone can dance," especially since that kind of environment was so important in initiating and supporting my own dance journey. I want to be part of and support this mission, especially in our new directions of providing opportunities for all kinds of dance-related artists. I am excited to help this organization and the community grow and strengthen.

I dance because it's a release from the stress of daily life, and it's something that grounds me when I go through busy times.

I joined Aces because I didn't want to give up on dancing when I went to college and I was lucky enough to be asked to join this group! I stayed because I love the low-stress supportive atmosphere, and the friendliness whether you've interacted with a member hundreds of times or the first time!

I started dancing at the end of high school because of a love for music and performance but at Cornell University, I joined Aces and I grew to love it even more for the community that took me in with open arms. I was able to find my family among other dancers who have pushed me to new heights and continue to inspire me to grow in my dance journey.

I’ve felt the impact that a strong community has had on my progression as a dancer, so as a part of ADC, I wanted to help maintain these connections between Aces alumni outside of Ithaca and to build new ones as ADC continues to grow. Our mission statement resonates with me strongly and I’m looking forward to seeing the impact that we can have in cultivating this environment.

I first started dancing as a way to exercise and stay fit. I started to love the way it pushed my limits and made me push my body in different ways. Eventually, it became something I thought about everyday. Joining the dance community became a great way to meet others who also enjoyed dancing.

I first joined for more opportunities in open-style dance and choreography. Through my time with Assorted Aces and ADC, I’ve learned to enjoy my time with the people involved. I’m excited to see how ADC grows! The vision behind ADC is very exciting and I’m grateful to be a part of the growing process. I am looking forward to how ADC will eventually expand to the broader public.