By Judy Carmack Bross
Liberty Bryant as Angel 2. Photo by Jordyn A. Bush.
“Black Girls Dance is not just about dance. It’s about confidence. It’s about growth. It’s about passion.” —Michelle Obama
Choreographer, author and founder of Black Girls Dance Erin Barnett presents Mary, A Holiday Dansical for one night only, December 14 at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th Street. Featuring 36 young dancer/actors telling the Nativity story through ballet, hip hop, tap and contemporary dance, Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts) senior Destiny Johnson stars as Mary and Emani Drake, a Prince Grace Foundation Honoraria Awardee, appears courtesy of Deeply Rooted Dance Theater. The evening showcases not only emerging dancers and littlest angels, but also Barnett’s beliefs, abilities and advocacy. Music by Adele as well as gospel music and carols back the young dancers some of whose predecessors have gone on to study at Juilliard and dance with Alvin Ailey.
Founder and life-long dancer Erin Barnett.
Founded by Barnett in 2015, Black Girls Dance cultivates, empowers, and supports women in pursuing their dream of performing and grants scholarships to pre-professionals to train at the studio or institution of their choice. The organization became a nonprofit in 2021. Barnett, a Chicago native, was the first African-American Clara in the Chicago Tribune Charities production of The Nutcracker at McCormick Place. She toured internationally with Garth Fagan Dance and Philadanco!, played the role of Sarafina in The Lion King in Las Vegas for three years, and performed with Beyonce at the Billboard Awards. Her first children’s book was Get Outta Here Stage Fright!, inspired by her experiences as a dance teacher for young children. Her second book, Do You Speak Ballet?, is available on Amazon.
Dancer Milei Catalan . Photo by Mia Catalan.
Speaking with Barnett is an experience I would wish for all: a rare mix of spirit and strength that surely makers her an extraordinary teacher for her corps of children ages 7-18. Her description of dancing with Beyonce made me draw the comparison to her hard work as we talked while she prepared for December 14.
“I was one of 100 dancers for Beyonce’s “Run the World (Girls)” Billboard performance. We were rehearsing in a warehouse and I saw at a distance a woman in sweatpants with blonde hair who kept practicing the routine for hours. I thought it had to be a stand-in but it was Beyonce who was just so nice and spent time talking with us like a home girl, so down to earth.”
Liberty Bryant as Angel 1. Photo by Jordyn A. Bush.
We asked Barnett to tell us about how she began dancing, the impetus for founding her company and her years in The Lion King. The dancers, up from 27 last year, began working on the performance in September and Barnett was refining last details when we spoke.
“I was born and raised on the South Side and like so many young black children I discovered the magic of the Mayfair Dance Academy, so many of us went there, including Michelle Obama. I wanted to study classical ballet. As I grew up I began to see micro-aggressions against black dancers and I wanted to make sure that we had full visibility. While at Howard University I studied with the visionary choreographer Mike Malone and performed at the Kennedy Center. That helped me to re-imagine the role of black dancers. I believe that God gives you the secret desires of your heart.”
Lioness Erin.
Zebra Erin.
“I spent four years dancing as Seraphina in The Lion King at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas. In 2022 I received a call that they wanted me to go out on the road with the show to play the second zebra in The Circle of Life. I tried on the costume they suggested and it turned out to be mine from the Las Vegas days. I felt delighted to still be able to wear it.”
Destiny Johnson as Mary 1. Photo by Jordyn A. Bush.
What is giving her much delight these days is working with her young dancers. “The little ones who are taking their first tap classes look up in awe to the dancers on pointe. They learn to use their imagination and it opens up their world. They also see that on pointe is very difficult. I encourage all the dancers to trust me, that it is more than just dancing, they really have to hold the stage.”
In the play, Mary is at first portrayed as a contemporary teenager seeking purpose to her life, who then is surrounded by her mother and friends who help her celebrate her destiny.
Destiny Johnson as Mary 2. Photo by Jordyn A. Bush.
Nia Sioux, known to many from the reality television series Dance Moms, will offer a pre-show talk on the importance of safe spaces for Black and Brown girls and sign copies of her book Bottom of the Pyramid.
Liberty Bryant as Angel 3. Photo by Jordyn A. Bush.
Tickets are $45, $25 for children younger than 12, and $65 for the performance and pre-show talk with Nia Sioux, and are available at ticketfalcon.com/e/mary2025/.
