We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Xaviour Smith a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Xaviour, thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
(Collective Laughter) “…that on our team? He is a boy, and just look at him, something like that is not what we are going for on this team…ever and will never.” Amongst an array of similar negative remarks and tactics, these are some of the many negative things that I was subjected to by my then high school coaches that were appointed to nurture and educate me through the art and sport of interscholastic dance, the crushing realization that I came upon was that a team that I worked so hard to help build and show up for in so many ways, was working so hard to separate themselves from me, because of my gender and look. If I were auditioning for a professional team, this may be something said. However, this is a high school team that was set in place to promote interest, passion, and school spirit through those who are skilled and have proven to be so, which I am, but was accepted and then cast away, used for only what I could do for the team. Still, I eventually found that this was not the place for me, and if I wanted to truly delve into my passion, I would have to take matters into my own hands. With my then household of 9+ individuals financially supported by my mother, I could not be present in the overwhelming costs that all-star dance would incur on my family’s pockets. In turn, I took the two issues that I was going through in being underrepresented due to gender bias and lack of financial access, I made a solution for all others that may be going through the very thing I was to ensure that if I had anything to do with it, that no one would have to go without in the way that I did. At age 13 in November 2010, I vowed to provide a nurturing and accessible program in my nonprofit, 1101 Dance Academy. For 15 years now, 1101 has offered mentorship, tutoring, familial support, cost coverage, and so much more, all wrapped in the art and sport of dance to serve all genders, underserved communities, and all youth interested in access to dance. Giving back to the community through abundant charitable services in back-to-school drives, community events, fellow program assistance, and much more. Continuing to push the youth and everyone around them to do better through empowerment, not hate or exclusion. Instead of continuing harmful behaviors to the community or becoming bitter, I became a part of the solution, and the answer to the problem was 1101.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Xaviour James Smith, Executive Director & Coach to the nonprofit community dance program that provides high-quality dance education to youth within Maryland and its surrounding areas. 1101 acts as a competitive and performance dance program that also operates as a foundation for the benefit of all underserved communities. I got into this act of service by not being served in my youth and growing up in my humble beginnings with a young mother that figured it out on her own. I saw so many individuals find their circumstances to be a cause that would derail their lives and spiral into dormant or violent natures, but I wanted to be different, so I saw to it that it came to pass. I now continue to offer a safe haven for young people who may not have a noble figure to look to. Dance is the tool I use to magnify the mentorship I influence and is recharged incredibly by my students and their passion. Yes, we offer ballet, hip-hop, jazz, lyrical, majorette, pompon, tumbling, and more. Still, we provide a process for educating the whole student that sets 1101 apart from any other program. While a trophy and different accolades that we acquire are nice, they mean nothing at all if the young people of today that I educate are not poured into. This ideology places us in a league of our own. I am most proud of my students and the growth that I see at all speeds. When a student comes out of their shell and I see a confidence boost or any increase in speaking their mind or progressive communication with others, this is why I do what I do. Seeing the troupe of ever-changing young people year to year and how they begin by questioning the process and then learn to love it when they come out on the other side is a gift to myself daily. Please feel free to contact us if you or anyone else knows of any youth in Maryland or the surrounding area who has or would like to further their passion for dance. If you do not fall into the category and would still like to join our team, please let us know what you want to bring to the table as we do what we love in building our community.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
“Jaw dropping!” I have been told as it is not every day that you see a 6’2 and heavy-set Black male counting 5, 6, 7, 8, and working with the youth in dance, education, and childcare, but here it is, and I now get to join the few trailblazers doing so. Allowing me to go through the shock or confusion when people see that I am the creator of 1101 Dance Academy when they first find out is always tickling to me, as they do not usually look at me and think of a dance coach, as the head of most companies in this discipline are women. If they do, they believe I am an outright styling hip-hop coach, yes, but when they find out I am the director and my favorite style is jazz, it often catches them off guard. I love having the shock value I possess and being one of the frontrunners of the movement of Black men in dance, nonprofit work, and the other spaces I enter in my area. So, when the next generation of Black men looks to do the same or even different than what society deems, they should do, they have support and a history to act as their foundation. I get to change the negative outlook that many individuals have of Black men when they try to place us into a box of their assumptions, and this will always be a beautiful happening for me, so pick up your jaw.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
To stop the excuses is what we all have to do to properly support the creative ecosystem. Yes, the world may be trying and challenging for us all, but the more we fight for ourselves and pull apart, the less we win. We must all come together, realize our differences make us similar, and not participate in harmful words and actions toward others. Pouring into one another and being the supporter of the next and their content, is the answer. Taking a chance to listen to that smaller musical creator you may come across or paying attention to that street performer the next time you see them, maybe this will be the fanning of their passion, which gets set ablaze with your help. No more excuses, let us show up for each other, pull one another up, and not be crabs in a bucket, there is room, time, and space for everyone to succeed.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.1101dance.org
- Instagram: @1101dance
- Facebook: 1101 Dance Academy
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@1101dance
Image Credits
Xaviour James Smith