The Power and Presence of People of Color in Dance

    Dance has always been more than movement, it’s storytelling, resistance, and community. Throughout history, people of color (POC) have shaped the global dance landscape, often without receiving the recognition they deserve. From the streets to the stage, their cultural influence runs deep, redefining what dance means and who it belongs to.

    Many of today’s most popular dance styles trace back to Black and brown communities. Hip-hop, which began in the Bronx during the 1970s, emerged as a form of self-expression for young African American and Latino dancers. Breaking, locking, and popping weren’t just moves, they were acts of creativity born out of struggle and joy. Similarly, jazz dance grew from African rhythms blended with European styles, evolving into a cornerstone of American performance art.

    Across the world, Indigenous, Asian, and Latinx communities have preserved traditional dances that tell stories of ancestry and survival. From Bharatanatyam in India to the Afro-Brazilian martial art of Capoeira, these art forms carry histories that are centuries deep.

    Despite their contributions, POC dancers have often faced exclusion in professional spaces. Ballet companies and mainstream institutions historically centered Eurocentric beauty standards, lighter skin, specific body types, and Western training methods. Dancers of color were often told they didn’t “fit the look.” Yet, artists like Misty Copeland, the first Black female principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre, and Desmond Richardson, co-founder of Complexions Contemporary Ballet, have broken through these barriers, proving that excellence has no color code.

    Another major figure, Alvin Ailey, founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1958 to give Black dancers a space to tell their own stories through modern dance. His masterpiece Revelations celebrates African American spirituals and resilience, and remains one of the most performed modern dance works in the world today.

    In Latin America, Amalia Hernández founded the Ballet Folklórico de México, blending traditional Mexican folk dance with classical ballet to bring Indigenous and mestizo heritage to the international stage. Meanwhile, Korean choreographer Lia Kim has revolutionized the global dance scene through her intricate hip-hop and K-pop choreography, showing how Asian dancers continue to shape mainstream movement culture.

    Today, social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram have given POC dancers global visibility. Choreographers such as Sean Bankhead, Parris Goebel, and Sherrie Silver fuse cultural influences and modern technique, reaching millions and inspiring the next generation. Studios and companies are also beginning to prioritize diversity, creating more opportunities for dancers of all backgrounds.

    The future of dance is inclusive. It celebrates where movement comes from, not just how it looks. When POC dancers take the stage, they bring with them the rhythms of their ancestors, the pulse of their cultures, and the power of visibility. Dance, after all, is most alive when every story gets to move.