My DEI Story: Chloe Little

My DEI Story

By Chloe Little, Graduating Senior, Florida International University, Secretary of Dance Artists’ National Collective

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) was first an intuitive conviction that haunted my trajectory towards becoming a professional dancer. DEI initiatives are continuously ingrained within public and private sector structures as society aims for a more progressive and innovative impact. Within the past two years, I've found the courage to ask questions that I once feared the response to. Sometimes, the answers have left me triggered. I've felt lost. But very few experiences can amount to unapologetically striving to find oneself.

Mentioning that I've studied classical ballet and modern dance offers me some brownie points in social settings. I loved the discipline and grace that the art form requires. Still, the routine of gracing my skin with tights that had no intention of embracing my melanin left me asking for more authenticity in my occupational practice. I found the eurocentrism and antiquated feminine identity the art form called for to be tiring. Suddenly, terminology like institutional racism and systemic oppression served as healing agents from the many wounds I encountered from gaslighted and manipulative responses to matters of race in dance. Unfortunately, the identity complexities that follow colonization are not just a problem in the dance community; it is a political detriment that challenges all sectors. I struggled with writing a final thesis paper on this topic during my time as a dance major. I wrestled with the validity of topics relating to race and the need for more diversity, equity, and inclusion in the arts. My inability to complete this final paper in addition to pressing personal issues sent me down a long introspective path.

Moving forward, I assumed my inability to write about the need for DEI in the concert realm of dance (before the practice was common) must have stemmed from a lack of intellectual capacity. I never thought to question the limited diversity and hierarchical dynamics of the program I was pursuing. There was no alternative historical account to the texts we were assigned which featured groups dissected into superior and inferior races. Regardless, I could never stop dancing and found refuge through urban music. I left school with my degree unfinished. Eventually, I found myself exploring the antithesis of classical ballet through nightlife. Although, the imperial art form of ballet is simply the predecessor for today's modern gentleman's club. I intended to create a genre of movement where the marginalized identity could compose creative work that challenged social norms and systems with vivid urban elements. This never happened, but something much better did.

Unexpectedly, an imperfectly beautiful tumultuous pursuit of survival in Miami, Florida is what transpired:

1. I found shelter that I could afford from people who didn't look or speak like me.
2. I received food from individuals who practiced love beyond social constructs when I was hungry.
3. I received daily doses of encouragement from people of different ages and abilities.
4. I was offered grace and the most generous gestures of support from citizens of the world who may never be able to achieve owning a U.S. passport.

These individuals collectively taught me that diversity requires many. Equity is best implemented from sincere compassion. Overall, inclusion takes the courage to offer your hand first. I overcame the intuitive convictions I felt as a young dancer, not to merely write about the problem, but to collectively compose solutions for the strategic advancement of the marginalized identity.

DEI is not just about what you do; it's about what you stand for. As an African American woman with richly melanated skin and a full crown of fluffy, frizzy, and curly hair, I have the privilege of testifying for DEI even in my silence. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is now an embodied core value that propels me to look beyond the stage with my entire experience alongside me, so that I may aid in deconstructing socio-political determinants that challenge all sectors, not just as an artist, but as a brilliant, courageous, and adaptable citizen of the world.

The WGR “My DEI Story” Blogs are featured monthly, highlighting the story of a DEI Committee Member or supporting ally. These blogs are designed to shine a light on the amazing diversity that exists within our community, and to recognize that EVERYONE has a DEI Story. Interested in having your story featured? Please send an email to dei.wgr@gmail.com.