Congratulations to our “May” My Brown Ballerina!
by Samantha | Dec 8, 2025 | Others |
Erin Banks hails from McDonough Georgia…
As an artist, she feels that the spiritual gift of dance has satisfied her desire for inner peace. Her artistic mission is to help break the restrictive box of societal standards that determines what a dancer should be. She believes that her mission starts by tearing down the desire for perfection, as it places a large burden on oneself. Erin feels that some of the most beautiful work comes from the ability to be willing to fall and be exploratory with one’s own body.
Prior to college, she attended a predominantly black dance studio where she fit in. Being in an environment where those around her share the same experiences made her feel comfortable to be her authentic self. In the past, she felt no restrictions to be the best version of herself. However, things have not been so easy in college. Attending a predominately white institution, she is the only black female ballet major in the entire dance department, which has made her feel isolated at times. At her lowest points, she developed an unhealthy desire for perfectionism. She doesn’t want to mess up and have people link weaknesses to her race.
As a brown ballerina, she have often felt afraid to take up space out of fear of being labeled as “doing too much.” There have been many moments where she tried to quiet her artistic voice because she already felt like her melanin set her apart, and didn’t want to draw any negative attention to herself. Although she has never been blatantly discriminated against for the color of her skin, it can be difficult to feel accepted in spaces where she’s the minority. In those times, she thinks about how nice it would be to interact with people who look like her and can relate to her personal experiences. But even in those tough times, she is reminded of how much the arts have liberated her and taught her to love herself. As her college career comes to an end, she has been able to overcome both mental/emotional struggles, and she feels herself stepping into an era where she can be unapologetic and unashamed of the gift that God has given her. Erin hopes to continue to encourage other dancers of color to stay true to themselves and never give up on their dreams!
Erin, believes that being a Brown Ballerina makes her fearless! She believes that so much of her life has been overtaken by fear. Fear of making mistakes. Fear of failure. Fear of disappointing people around her. And, she feels like the world has conditioned women of color to operate in fear as a tactic to silence them. But, overtime, she’s realized that the color of her skin is what sets her apart, but not in a negative way! She has grown to be unafraid of other people’s perceptions and opinions. She believes that dance is much more than just technique. It’s about the joy and uniqueness that radiates from the heart. Therefore, her ability to be herself is what makes her special!
Erin is a twin and has always looked up to her twin sister who always made her feel seen and heard. As she has gotten older, she has learned about the power of giving and cherishing the relationships that she has. In dance, rather than feeling like she is separate from the audience, she views a performance as a way to establish relationships where light and joy is exchanged. She would love to see more ways to make ballet accessible for low-income communities. The cost of pointe shoes, great training, and summer intensives can be expensive. She also realized that the best dance training tends to be located in areas where people with higher incomes have access. Therefore, she would love to see action and steps taken which provide assistance for young dancers who want to pursue the art form, but are not able to because of the financial commitment.
Erin can be reached through her Instagram profile!
Instagram: @erin_loves_2_dance
If you would like an opportunity to also be featured. Email us at: info@mybrownballerina.com and request our Feature Form. Instructions included and must be submitted by the 15th of the month prior to be considered.
My Brown Ballerina
