LEXINGTON, Ky. — Lexington’s African American Ballet Troupe is putting their spin on a timeless holiday classic.
The Ebony Nutcracker made its first debut last year at the Lexington Lyric Theater. In response to community demand, the African American ballet troupe is returning, and this time at the University of Kentucky’s Singletary Center for the Arts.
The founder and creator of the African American Ballet Troupe is 16-year-old Kayla Chambers-Reid, who choreographed the show with the support of her peers.
Kayla has been dancing since she was two years old, and has performed the original Nutcracker several times. Now she has wants to tell the story she knows well with some special changes.
“If we’re going to do the Nutcracker, I might as well put our spin on it. Use the music that culturally ties to us,” Kayla explained. She says every aspect of sound comes together in a routine that she and her peers designed, and is like the original story.
New culturally themed characters, and what Kayla’s mom, Sandra, calls a new kind of “voyage” have been incorporated into the show.
“Like where the cocoa bean grows. Hence, we have a cocoa bean fairy that knows the different countries, and she takes them to different places and they learn and see and are exposed to dances that are indigenous to those different countries,” Sandra explained.
Kayla says she’s passionate about stepping into her instructor role for another year with her friends. She says there have been moments when she has danced as one of few persons of color in her classical ballet events.
“Different energy. obviously, in the classical world. You’re usually the only one, which happens to be the case a lot. So when you’re surrounded by those who look like you have the same experience as you, it’s just a whole different energy and it’s just so uplifting,” she said.
Sandra says her daughter came to her at 14 years old with an intricate plan for inclusion and opportunities for young dancers like herself.
The troupe of young Black girls and boys have now worked together to create a comfortable space for one another.
Kayla says it started with her eagerness to teach younger groups and see diversity in dance in the city and beyond.
“I dance at SCAPA of the Bluegrass and that’s where this started. So a lot of my friends that are here behind me, that’s where they came from. So I asked them, hey, do you want to start this with me? They said, of course. And over the years, it’s just grown into what it is now,” Kayla explained.