I would like to introduce you all to Kira! She is an amazing ballerina and content creator who is an inspiration to many. Representation really does matter, and she is showing us all just that! So many beautiful black and brown girls dream of becoming ballerinas, but when they can actually see someone who looks like them excelling in the world of ballet, it displays reassurance. It helps them to know they can turn their dreams into reality. Recently, I received the opportunity to interview her! Check it out below!

Where are you from?

I’m from Atlanta, GA!

What inspired you to enter the world of ballet, and how long have you been dancing?

Good question, haha. I’ve been dancing for as long as I can remember. My parents put me in dance when I was around 7 years old. I actually started with cheer and dance at the same time and ultimately chose to pursue ballet when I was 13. I’ve been dancing for over 14 years now.

When people watch you dance, what message do you hope to convey to them?

I hope that people see a reflection of themselves in my movements and that I impact people in a way that leaves them feeling empowered and inspired. In short, I hope that people perceive the embodiment of their aspirations through my dancing.

When we are in the midst of doing what we love, it’s such an amazing feeling! I actually love ballet, and I think it’s such an empowering style of dance. When you are dancing, how does it make you feel? 

Weightless. I really don’t know how to describe it, but this feeling outweighs all of the “cons” that come along with dancing. Even when my body is tired and I’m mentally exhausted, those little moments I get when I dance, although fleeting, make me feel like I’m on top of the world. Every day in class, I aim to have at least a couple of these moments because they remind me of my “why.” Why I continue to dance every day.

What fellow ballet dancers have influenced you on your journey?

Not that I don’t look up to anyone, but my first answer is myself LOL. I think I’m both my biggest fan and my biggest competitor. I never really saw anyone that looked like me growing up in ballet, so I had to be that role model for myself! For my second answer, these are a couple of dancers that I find really inspiring: Precious Adams and Michaela DePrince!

What has been your most memorable performance, and why? 

One performance that stands out to me is Jirí Kylián’s “Falling Angels.” Being a part of and performing in this powerful piece has left a lasting impact on me. It presents both mental and physical challenges as it lasts 16 minutes and the dancers never leave the stage! We were also constantly counting, and it was so necessary due to the drum-focused music. What makes it truly special is the collective effort—eight women came together for this performance, and the experience left me feeling invincible.

In those challenging moments where things may get hard, how do you keep yourself going?

Referring to a couple of questions back, I find that reminding myself of my “why” keeps me going. Days get hard, you get tired, and sometimes you want to lay on the couch all day! However, I remind myself of why I love to do what I do and the goals that I’m reaching towards. I also like to remind myself of how far I’ve come.

When you’re not busy, how are you practicing self-care and pouring into yourself?

Oooh, I love myself some self-care! Immediately after sweating up a storm in class or rehearsal, I come home and have the best shower. I love skincare as well, so I have to do my little routine :). Other than that, I love listening to music, watching TV when I have time, or reading a book! What also helps me is using a roller or tennis ball to get knots out in places that need a little extra TLC. With that being said, I try to do at least 70% of all of that in one day. A lot of the time, we forget that self-care is important! Without doing the little things that make you happy, I find that I get stressed more easily, and life seems more dull. A good reminder for anyone who struggles with self-care is to think about how you can’t take care of others if you don’t take care of yourself.

When it comes to women and our women’s community, what would you like to see more of?

Within the context of dance and the ballet community, I think it’s important to create spaces to celebrate women’s accomplishments and uplift each other’s artistic journeys. In regards to ballet, I would just love to see more women choreographers and women in power! It is so inspiring to see women living up to their fullest potential and being recognized for their work.

Share any websites, social media handles, and how we can connect with you and your work!

My Instagram and TikTok is @kiraelon 🙂

Thank you so much Kira!