Today we’d like to introduce you to Alex Newkirk.
Alex, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My story… Well, my story starts in Atlanta, GA as a young dancer. Right before high school after dancing seriously for 10+ years I went on to train in New York every summer at the age of 13 with Dance Theatre of Harlem and continued to go until I was 16 or 17. I began to understand my true talent in New York. While I was dancing, I was only exploring my talent through classical and neoclassical ballet, and when I got to college that all sort of changed. I had an amazing jazz teacher that shaped my brain and technique to love more than ballet. So, through my years I started to love contemporary ballet and jazz. Once I left school, I was doing guesting roles with companies but then I auditioned for Dallas Black Dance Theatre: Encore!. I spent a season at the company and it was a very shaping time for me as a dancer. I would have never thought I would end up in a modern/repertoire company like DBDTE!. I made some amazing connections and friends. My business sprouted very randomly and it started with my book, The Ballet Workbook. This workbook encapsulates all that I teach to my dance children now. Being a professional dancer is amazing but to be able to educate while dancing is the best reward because it teaches you as well. The book inspired me to create merchandise that represents people who are like me, AMB. Lines I have within the company are Black Women in Ballet and Ballet for Everyone. One line clearly shows representation for black women in a field where we are not the majority and ballet is for any and everyone
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has not been smooth at all, there were some missing pieces of the road that I had to add to just take a step forward. I have been removed from dances for being too dark, been told I was arrogant by the same people who reminded me I was never good enough, and just ballet will break you apart. A lot of the questions I get is, why do I keep going? The simple answer is that it gives more than it takes. I cannot tell you the things I have experienced have been easy but they built me up. The road till now has been grueling but there is some great road ahead. I don’t have true mentors that I have the ability to speak to that have experienced ballet like I have. Some gain them at every point in their dance life. In college my ballet teachers were not too fond of me in ballet, to say the least. I haven’t had the easiest path but I am proud to say I have taken some detours. I have the “typical,” ballet body meaning, my legs are long, my torso is extremely short, my head is big, and my neck is short. But with me being a black woman we account for our blackness. Being all of those things with bigger breasts, a large rib cage, and skin darker than a paper brown bag, the road is not easy. I will NOW never provide an excuse for my body. I want to continue to instill that my dance children. That was a big struggle of mine.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a professional ballet dancer. I say that because even though I do more I am dedicated to ballet. I have been dancing for 20+ years and professionally dancing for 6 years after attending Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA. I spent my time training at Atlanta Ballet, Ballethnic Dance Academy, and Dance Theatre of Harlem in my childhood. While dancing in Dallas I have starting teaching ballet and pointe for intermediate and advanced dancers. I am most proud of my journey and that I will be where I am appreciated with my dancing. It will never be easy but it doesn’t have to be terribly hard either. Working hard and being determined will get you to the door. In 2020 I decided to write a children’s workbook for ballet. This was strangely inspired by a TikTok I saw but then I realized how easy it would be to help children (like my dance children) learn ballet. The book includes different dancers I have seen and danced with at one point. These dancers are of many different backgrounds. I do not know if I am known for anything but being a ballet dancer and now an author. I decided to create a brand a few months after the book came out AMB. The logo is me, Alex Maureen Ballet and I created it for representation. I do believe what sets me apart from others is that I pride myself on being a chameleon in dance. No matter what form of dance you give me I will rise to the occasion no matter the time it takes and in dance that is overnight or a 30-minute break.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I give credit to these teachers from my training because these are the teachers who while I was with them lifted me up and showed me how great I was. First being, Virginia Johnson the artistic director of Dance Theatre of Harlem, she may not know it but her keeping on me in dance made me see I could not let her down. The following are true staples in my dance life: Andrea Long-Naidu, Endalyn Taylor, Agustus Van Heerden, Keith Sanders, Robert Garland, Jason McDole, Nikki Hefko, Savery Morgan, Amy Harold, and Katricia Eaglin. Andrea Long-Naidu is the only teacher to bring tears to my eyes, and not negatively but encouraging me through my frustration with myself knowing I could make it happen. These teachers believed in me without doubt and past my time with them they showed me that they cared for me with a loving hand.There are people I have had that taught me dance but did not teach me to stand up in dance. Each individual did that in their own ways and at different times in my training.
Katricia Eaglin is someone who I met after my time dancing at DBDTE and has to this day been supportive and honest with me as an adult. Many think once we get to a position in our careers that we do not need guidance but she truly gives me clarity and guidance I have not received as an adult in this profession.
Contact Info:
- Email: alexmaureenballet@gmail.com
- Website: alexandranewkirk.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexmaureenballet/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexmaureenballet
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJwWepIpcU5Ba6DbItBr24A
Image Credits
Xavier Mack
Rhi Lee Photography
Jor Nicole Photography
Brown Girls Do Ballet
