A national campaign pushing for greater racial equality in dance has been launched by a Ruddington dance teacher.
Stacey Green is the Principal of Freedom Dance and Performance Arts School on Charles Street, for children aged 2 to 18, which she started in 2002, and these days boasts around 150 pupils. She also co-founded ‘The Freedom Foundation’, which delivers dance, singing and song-writing programmes across schools to improve mental health.
Now she’s set up ‘TIRED’ – which stands for ‘Trying to Improve Racial Equality in the Dance industry’. The movement aims to spark conversation about racial inequality within dance and to instigate a move towards greater diversity in the sector.
“Black Lives Matter has had a massive impact on me mentally and when you look at performing arts and in particular dance, it’s easy to see how under-represented ethnicities are” says Stacey, who believes there’s even racism in our village, whether it is unconscious or not. “It doesn’t matter where you live. I have been in Ruddington for over 18 years and have found it a most welcoming, supportive place to live, and have never experienced any blatant racism personally, but that does not mean that it isn’t still there. The village is a lot more diverse than it used to be and I am proud of the close community we have, especially since the start of this pandemic.”
Stacey says she feels that education should start at home: “Let’s be honest, the first face they see when they join my school is that of a mixed race woman. My students just see me, ‘Stacey’, they don’t see my colour. The Freedom Family is something very special that we have created and colour, race or gender have never been an issue within the school. We embrace everyone regardless.” However, she thinks that the whole country is divided on so many subjects right now: “It’s really sad to see. On the one hand you have people fearful of being called a racist and not wanting to accept that their views or opinions have racist connotations. Then on the other hand you have the younger generation embracing individuality and wanting to see change.”
One of the aims of TIRED is to address prejudice against people from ethnic minorities securing roles or jobs within the theatre and the performing arts industry: “If you are a performer of colour then you have to work that little bit harder to secure that role. Dancers of colour are still stereotyped and there is a long way to go before real changes are made. The lack of diversity at top level is a reason why many young black artists do not aspire to become that director or producer, because they just don’t see their culture represented across the board. There are over 200 adjudicators in this country who are listed in the British Federation of Festivals directory, and not one of them is black. I’m 45 years of age and I have never seen a black adjudicator or examiner in all my years of dancing, which is absolutely outrageous in 2020!”
Supporters of the new TIRED campaign include jazz choreographer and theatre director Dollie Henry, Bird College ballet teacher Anna Morgan and Ignite dance company co-principal Louise Harrison.
“The TIRED Movement will initially be embarking on a tour of dance schools across the country, to start an open and honest conversation about being visibly diverse and inclusive whilst raising awareness about how as leaders of the next generation we can improve our understanding of what it means to be an all inclusive school that respects ethnic diversity within dance settings” adds Stacey. “We want to invite everyone within the dance industry to sign up and support TIRED, and push for these vital changes to be made.”
You can keep tabs on TIRED by following them on Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram.
TIRED is also on ITV’s Central News – featuring an interview with Stacey – from 6pm this Thursday 10th December…
"I'm 45 and I've never seen a black examiner which is outrageous in 2020." Dance teacher Stacey Green from @freedomnotts #Ruddington #Nottinghamshire has set up @MovementTired to boost diversity in her industry. More on @ITVCentral at 6 @BalletBlack @mistyonpointe @ingridsilva pic.twitter.com/Du2dZx5Z81
— Peter Bearne (@pbearneITV) December 10, 2020
Meantime, following another closure of Ruddington’s dance studio during the second national COVID-19 ‘lockdown’, Stacey and her teaching staff are pleased to confirm that ‘the purple door to Freedom’ at 7, Charles Street is now open once again under Tier 3.
If you’d like more information about Freedom Dance & Performance, and perhaps even get your son or daughter involved, please visit their Facebook page, contact Stacey by email on info@fdpnottingham.co.uk or call 07548-151-919.
You can read more >>HERE<<.
