We recently connected with Robyn Gardenhire and have shared our conversation below.
Robyn, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
As a dancer of color in the Ballet world I had not experienced any real racism until I joined American Ballet Theater I was hired by Mikail Baryshnikov, but he departed the company the week after I was hired and my dream became a nightmare I was the only African American women in the company I had danced principle soloist roles before and now I was given understudy parts behind an 18yr. first-year company member I had danced with Joffrey II, and Cleveland Ballet for 10 years. I was fired from ABT they said for financial reasons I would have not stayed regardless of their reasons. With great sadness, I took American Ballet Theater to court and sued for discrimination. My payment would be in scholarships for minority students I was granted 6 scholarships for 6 years as well as outreach programs which they still continue to do. My first scholarship student was Misty Copeland who is their first African-American principal. Opportunity and open doors was what I wanted to change the way people see ballet. This then led me to open my own scholarship school and company we have been this for 21 years in the Los Angeles community at the Salvation Army. We are now beginning again the pandemic closed us down.
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.
I grew up in Lynwood CA my parents are from Kansas and my mother dreamed of becoming a dancer, she enrolled me in a class when I was 3 years old and I have been going ever since then. All through school I was called ballerina girl. My first teacher was Margaret Lynn Columbus in Compton the school was predominantly African American families. Ms. Columbuse sent me to an audition for Nutcracker with Los Angeles Ballet the Artistic Director was an ex-dancer with New York City Ballet John Clifford. I was then asked to stay in their school on scholarship. This began my journey to become a classical dancer. The difference in the school was the opportunity to enter the world of becoming a professional dancer. Most people don’t know that is done especially people of color or people who are not economically secure. With the training with my teacher Irina Kovmaska, I was able to do summer sessions at the School of American Ballet at 12, American Ballet at 13, San Francisco Ballet at 14, I auditioned with Dance Theater of Harlem & Joffrey II at 15 DTH offered me a scholarship for the school and Joffrey II offered me a contract with the company so I joined Joffrey II when I was 16yr.
My love of dance continued and I joined the Cleveland Ballet the company was like a mini American Ballet Theater the ballets we performed were top-notch. Swan Lake, Giselle, Seranad etc….. This would be my love of dance forever. But I found myself in NY one summer and got the opportunity to audition with American Ballet Theater Mikhail Baryshnikov and he hired me.
My life as a dancer has been a dream into reality taking me around the world. This is what inspired me to open my school and company to show those who can not afford the training. I offer lessons on scholarship and my company is made up of dancers that look like our audience in LA. The mission of our school is to sustain a dance institution that reflects the economic and racial makeup of LA. and to present work that is cutting-edge and relevant. Bringing the Ballet into the 21st Centery.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
When I lost my job with the American Ballet Theater I went on to dance with the White Oak Project and Boston Ballet, but after my dancing career, I went back to why I sued American Ballet Theater and began City Ballet of Los Angeles to create a school and give students the tools of the ballet so they will be on the same level as the students with financial security.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
To create ballets that touch people and relate to their lives
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cityballetofla.org
Image Credits
Leon Lee
1 Comment
Robert Lettau
Dancer Robyn Gardenhire is an astonishing woman. I learned about her from Misty Copeland’s series on FB, #BlackBallerinas.
From this article, you will learn about her rise to dance with the American Ballet Theater, chosen by Mikhail Baryshnikov. After Mikhail left, Robyn was given understudy parts, although she had danced principle soloist roles before, and then fired due to discrimination.
She took American Ballet Theater to court, sued for discrimination, and won. Her payment would be in scholarships for minority students: 6 scholarships for 6 years as well as outreach programs which they still continue to do. Misty Copeland was the first recipient of a scholarship. Robyn went on to dance with White Oak and the Boston Ballet.
But her life’s mission was rekindled when she realized she wanted to take away barriers that dancers of color faced, those who lacked financial security, so they could reach the same skill level as other dancers.
Voila. in 2000, she opened her own scholarship school and dance company at the Salvation Army. She is the Founder & Artistic Director, City Ballet of Los Angeles. She was chosen as a PBS Community Champion and is featured in the movie “A Ballerina’s Tale” about the life of Misty Copeland. As of 2022, she accepted a faculty position at the private performing-arts-focused Colburn School in Los Angeles.