In a special effort to raise awareness about the Braswell Arts Center Virtual Benefit Gala, we are proud to present this years featured artists.
Roderick George was born in Houston,Texas, where he began his studies and classical training at Ben Stevenson’s Houston Ballet Academy. Roderick continued to develop his skill by exploring other techniques at The Alvin Ailey School, Miami City Ballet, and LINES Professional Program all the while developing a collaboration of the techniques at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston, TX. After his general studies Roderick left his hometown and assimilated in New York City, where he began his undergraduate studies at SUNY Purchase College in 2003. Before starting his professional career, he was a bronze winner of the Youth American Grand Prix in New York City in 2005 and was elected as a Presidential Scholar of the Arts in 2003, where he performed for the US President at the Kennedy Center. Roderick joined Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet in 2005, which was very early on in his career engraving the beginning of his footprints in the dance world. Roderick explored more of New York as he danced with Sidra Bell Dance NY, Forces of Nature and the Kevin Wynn Collection, until he decided to move abroad to Switzerland where Roderick joined the Basel Ballet/ Theater Basel in 2007 and later to guest with the Goteborg Operan DansKompani. Roderick joined The Forsythe Company in Frankfurt, Germany. Where he learnt and shared his greatest moments with William Forsythe. His career has embraced the collaborations of his work and other great choreographers such as Peeping Tom, Jorma Elo, Jerome Bel, Jacopo Godani, William Forsythe, Johan Inger, Jiří Kylian, Sharon Eyal, Ohan Naharin, Benoit Swan-Pouffer, Richard Wherlock, Tino Seghal and many others. Roderick has found much media attention namely, via his performance at the Swiss MTV Music Awards for DJ Antoine and Hercules & Love Affair music video, “Do You Feel the Same?”
Tell us about the work you are presenting or dancing in?
“The Missing Fruit” is a part of a trilogy I am still working on, and it is a work that I have been trying to create for some years. It is inspired by the iconic Billie Holiday song and the Black Lives Matter movement. In my movement discovery, I will address the realities of systemic racism and how current events reflect the past; I also wanted to cultivate a space to showcase the discussion and celebration of Black joy.
What inspires you?
Honestly, the joy I feel when I view dance and dancing. Growing up, I watched The Box or MTV and waited for Janet Jackson’s music videos to mimic and learn dance. Even though she was a woman, she was black, and it was a type of representation that I desired everywhere I was going or training.
Hardest part of your job?
The idea to continue to work. As a freelancer, I have to find my work where it calls me. Sometimes I am a dancer, a teacher, or a choreographer. Sometimes I have no job. The most challenging part is the push to continue and believe that you are worthy and a part of a community.
Who has been the most influential person/people in your life? or Career? and why?
As I have said earlier, Janet Jackson, but growing up in Houston and seeing Lauren Anderson and Carlos Acosta was insane in my life as an eight-year-old. Also, my experience at the Ailey School as a teenager. It was the most valued era in my life. I learned about the world. Seeing dancers who looked like me and were highly talented was one thing but realizing that dancers who looked like me danced internationally was another perspective I never factored into my life.
Something you like to do other than dance?
I love drawing and singing if I am not glued to my Netflix.
Your wildest dreams for the dance world?
What a great question? I would love for the dance world to live forever as I see the significance of the art form disappearing daily—proper support and respect for dancers as we provide culture and movement to the world. When the pandemic hit us all hard, we dancers continued to entertain the world when the world stopped. I wish we were valued. Inadequately, we are paid in “exposure,” “experience,” and under-paid, I mean “under-the-table.”
Something you would change in the REAL world?
I’d love to create a space for dancers and use my experiences to create something safe, not using the business aspect to threaten dancers to work correctly. Money can be a complex component for us to think appropriately; however, greed makes us cloudy, and people in power tend to forget their past. They were once struggling, trying to survive, and wishing their directors could see them suffering. Ultimately, we give our all in the studio. We love this art form called Dance. Balance is something I wish we could change, but GREED is real!
Please help us raise awareness about the Braswell Arts Center Virtual Benefit Gala, we need your support to reach our campaign goal for the new Braswell Arts Center at Aeschenplatz. Join us if you can!
