A R T S , E D U C AT I O N & I N N O VAT I O N
ance D LEADING THE
FOR INCLUSION
by KARI APTED
The Covington Regional Ballet strives to become a force for change using the language of dance to fully embrace inclusion and diversity in its dancers and dance forms. Covington Regional Ballet Director Josh Schadl has held on to a dream since he joined the staff several years ago. “Inclusion,” he said. “That’s been a big mission of mine.” Schadl’s mission is well understood by those in the arts community. Although dance is a vital artistic expression in nearly every culture across the globe, the professional dance world has been slow to fully embrace diversity. Newton County Arts Association Executive Director Buncie Hay Lanners shares Schadl’s commitment to equal representation in the arts. “I don’t want to follow in this endeavor for inclusion,” Lanners said. “I want to lead the way in making all dancers—that means all races, all types of hair, all body types—feel comfortable being who they are. I want everyone to feel comfortable celebrating using their bodies in dance.” Established in 2001, the Covington Regional Ballet has expanded its offerings over the years to include jazz, Broadway, creative movement, hip hop and acting classes. Artistic Director
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Liz Stillerman grew up dancing with the CRB and went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in dance performance and choreography from Elon University in North Carolina. After working with ballet ensembles from Jerusalem to Chicago, she returned to her hometown. “I couldn’t be more excited to have a graduate of our programs teaching our students now,” said Lanners, who also offers high praise for Schadl. He performed with the Atlanta Ballet and studied at the National Taiwan University of the Arts. “Josh has been teaching for us for several years now, and he is beloved. The kids just love him, and he’s very focused on the whole dancer. He believes in creating great kids, not just great dancers. He and Liz are quite a team.” The entire Covington Regional Ballet team is united in its mission to promote inclusion in dance, and it has preceded many professional dance companies in this regard. “It matters a lot to me that we’re on the cutting edge of this and that we began before the 2020 awareness from Black Lives Matter,” Lanners said. “In last year’s Nutcracker ballet, our Clara was black. She wore skin-colored tights instead of the standard ballet tights, which is a big deal in the dance world.” Traditionally, dance companies have required students of all ethnicities to wear generic flesh-colored tights and shoes, regardless of their individual skin tone. It is also a common requirement for girls to wear their hair in a smooth bun— a style that does not work well with all hair textures.
