We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nycole Ray. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nycole below.

Hi Nycole, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

Early on I thought I had it all figured out. I knew what I wanted to be… a cosmetologist! I did my research and decided that I would participate in a program offered at my high school that would teach me the craft and come graduation time, I would have all of the hours needed to take the state test. Very proud of my decision, I offered this glorious plan to my mother and she immediately told “No you will not be doing that!”. Instant heartbreak set in. While I didn’t have a back up career plan devised, I did also do some research on another program my high school offered that allowed students to participate in advanced placement and art classes that brought kids together from five different schools in the afternoons. I chose to take dance class (mother approved). After the first class, I knew whole heartedly that a dance career was what I wanted!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

Once I knew dance was my calling, it was time to work harder than ever to train my body and honestly try to catch up since I was starting this path late in life (13) for a career. Fast forward eight years, after graduating from the California Institute of The Arts and many blessings later, I embarked on starting my dance career. I was offer a position with the Dallas Black Dance Theatre. DBDT has given me more than just the opportunity to be an artist, it awakened my joy for teaching and inspiring dancers to reach there goals. Now in my 24th season with the company, I have been the Artistic Director of Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s, DBDT: Encore! for the past 12 years. Encore is the professional training company for DBDT. These dancers, mostly recent college graduates, come from all over the world to be a part of the program. The work that they do through community engagement, outreach classes with youth through the Dallas Independent School District, as well as touring national and internationally is wonderful! Leading these amazingly talented dancers is a sheer joy.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Some of the things that are rewarding for me as an artist/creative is having opportunities to express myself. I do find that I am emotionally complex at times and the stage allows me the platform to share and release some of my thoughts. It has been therapy for me for years. I also find great reward in seeing the dancers I direct reach there goals, rather that is understanding there body better, actualizing there artistry, and getting into the company of there dreams.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

In my early training days there was no internet! I’d have to go to the library in hopes to find books, magazines and video tapes, and yes I mean VHS tapes, not CD’s of dance resources. It is wonderful how knowledge and resources are more accessible now. Dance has become more mainstream and I love it! Everyone has access to it as a professional or a novice.

Contact Info:

• Website: dbdt.com
• Instagram: dallasblackdance
• Facebook: dallasblackdancetheatre
• Youtube: Dallas Black Dance Theatre

Image Credits
Steven Ray – images 1, 5 & 6 Amitava Sarkar – image 2 Nycole Ray – image 3 Sharen Bradford – images 4 & 9 Richard Freeman, Jr. – images 7 & 8