We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Robert Poe a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Robert, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?
My parents made sure to keep me busy after school. Even though I was always happy being by myself, they presented me with an extracurricular schedule that included horseback riding, gymnastics, trumbone, creative writing, piano and dance lessons. Both my parents would drive me to all of these engagements and wait for me to be done. My mother became involved with the board of directors of the dance studio where I practiced and my father took dance lessons when he was young from the very same man who taught me. My focus quickly narrowed to exclusively dance and my parents allowed me to make that decision. They encouraged me to go as far as I could with my training which included intensive summer dance camps which led me to a boarding school for the arts and humanities.
They always pushed me and provided space for me to fully realize my passions. Without their curiosity, attention and support, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
Robert, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
As I mentioned briefly before, my introduction to ballet was because of my parents enrolling me in dance classes. I was hooked and followed through with my training at the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities. It gave me the foundation I needed to have a fighting chance at such a difficult and competitive career. I’ve danced with classical ballet and contemporary companies, been a small fish in a big pond and a founding member of a brand new company. The more established companies taught me how a cohesive organization can operate and the smaller companies taught me HOW to help turn a grassroots organization into a solid dance company.
All of these experiences prepared me to co-found my own St. Louis based classically focused, dance company, Ballet 314. We capitalize on celebrating local talent and instigating collaborations on our community. Through this company I’ve been able to develop my storytelling skills by co creating a St Louis specific Nutcracker (The Nutcracker and the 1904 World’s Fair), choreographing and directing a dance adaptation of E. L. Doctoro’s Ragtime (Ragtime, the American Experience) and creating a short ballet featuring three of Edgar Allen Poe’s most memorable works (Poe²).
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
As a short black man in the classical dance arts, I had endured a great deal of programming concerning my body, it’s height, my skin tone and my musculature. Ballet is based on Europeans ideals and aesthetics and has not, historically, been welcoming to individuals who don’t fit those perceived standards. Becoming a teacher and director helped me come to terms with the fact that every BODY can dance; not just the ones who “look” like who we think dancers should look like.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
For me, being able to live a life that is physically active, emotionally engaging, artistically satisfying and spiritually uplifting is exactly what I’ve wanted to do since I was a child.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ballet314.aplos.org
- Instagram: @ballet314
- Facebook: @ballet314
Image Credits
Natalie Cooper, Sam Fink, Alex Guillossou, Gerry Love, Carly Vanderheyden