ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
TRUE COLORS Variation en Hue helps dancers become comfortable in their own skin
BY LAUREN H. DOWDLE Pink shoes and suntan or pale-colored tights have become the image of a ballet dancer for many. For dancers of color, conforming to the skin tone of their white peers by wearing these accessories is often required. That mindset is something Quincy Wilson hopes to change in the dance world and beyond. “I believe black and brown dancers should be able to have equal opportunities to wear accessories and costumes that not only match, but accentuate our skin tone,” Wilson says. “I want other dancers like me to be comfortable and happy in their skin, both on and off stage.” A sophomore at Vestavia High School, Wilson started dancing ballet, jazz, and hip-hop when she was three years old. She began participating in dance competitions at age six, and these have been especially close to her heart. “My sister was a competitive dancer, so even when I was little, I wanted to go,” Wilson says. To perfect her craft, she practices about 12 to 15 hours a week, making dance — and the people she meets through it — a big part of her life. The friendships she’s formed have been invaluable, and dance has also taught her several life lessons, she says. One of those lessons came when she joined the Vestavia Rebelettes as a freshman. Wilson remembers watching other schools perform during competitions, including dancers of color. “I saw them wearing tan tights to try to blend in,” Wilson recalls. “That was an eye-opening experience.” Wilson’s coach told her she could start wearing brown tights and shoes, which was the first time she was able to wear something that matched her skin color. “It was a really good experience being allowed to do that,” she says. “I felt confident in my own skin tone.” 26 Bham Family March 2021
PHOTOS COURTESY OF VARIATION EN HUE AND ALLY PACKARD
Quincy Wilson started Variation en Hue to empower other dancers of color.
Not all of her fellow students were as supportive or understanding, saying her shoes didn’t match or looked weird. While it hurt to hear that, Wilson says she finally felt comfortable in her own skin. Wilson also dances with the Birmingham Dance Theatre, which has now changed its policy, allowing the students to wear tights and shoes that match their skin tone during rehearsals. Wilson says she wants help normalize having skin-colored tights and shoes across the dance CONTINUED ON PAGE 27
