Influencing with Purpose: TaKiyah Wallace of Brown Girls Do Ballet®

Social media influencers are everywhere. However, not all influencers were made equally. Some use their platforms for more than just advertising themselves. This issue’s Influencing with Purpose focuses on TaKiyah Wallace of Brown Girls Do Ballet®, which aims to redefine the traditionally Euro-centric world of ballet to reflect what our world really looks like.

What motivated you to start the Brown Girls Do Ballet® Instagram? 

[It] began truly began as an accident. In late 2012… I kicked off what I thought was a personal photography project… to highlight girls of color in ballet programs. I was surprised upon discovering the lack of cultural diversity in local ballet schools while searching for a program for my then three year old. Like any mom, I grew concerned about how my daughter would feel in a class where no one resembled her.

At what point did you know it was going to be a success? 

I didn’t know it would be a success… What I thought was just a longing for me resonated with people all over the globe and opened the floodgates for conversations about diversity in the ballet world as well as other industries.

photo credit: Esther Huynh

Tell us about your Brown Girls Do® non-profit.  

{We are} a registered 501(c)3… to promote diversity in the arts by providing annual scholarships, a mentor network, and community programs to empower young girls… Two programs under our arts division are Brown Girls Do Ballet® and Brown Girls Do Gymnastics®. We are in the process of starting other entities under our umbrella so be on the lookout soon!

What do your partners provide your organization, like Athleta and Janie & Jack? 

We are honored to have incredible partnerships with companies like Athleta, Janie & Jack, and Fathead… [which] allows us to have the opportunity to reach those who are not familiar with our mission and vision. In addition to the visibility it gives us, we are also able to further our programming with partnerships like these as the proceeds from purchases help fund programs like our Pointe Shoe Program and scholarships…

photo credit: TaKiyah Wallace/Brown Girls Do Ballet®

How does someone become a mentor for an aspiring ballerina or gymnast? 

We want dancers and gymnasts (current and former) and professionals across disciplines with a desire to make the next generation’s path a little easier to step into the light…

What are the biggest obstacles facing women and girls of color with ballet and gymnastics today? 

One of the greatest obstacles facing women and girls of color in ballet and gymnastics today is access to resources. Lessons and training are expensive, and while there may be diverse and inviting spaces around them, parents often cannot afford what can be seen as an unnecessary luxury…

photo credit: TaKiyah Wallace/Brown Girls Do Ballet®

How can our readers contribute to your supply closet? 

Wanting to provide a sense of normalcy to young girls that were displaced as a result of flooding and hurricanes [in Louisiana and Houston], the closet was purchased and stocked to gift items to those young dancers… [we never charge] dancers for any of the goods or services that we provide. Therefore, we rely entirely on the kindness and generosity of people like you!

Who have you been most star-stuck to meet? 

As one Texas girl to another, I absolutely have to say Kelly Clarkson! Kelly featured me on an episode and was the absolute sweetest!

photo credit: TaKiyah Wallace/Brown Girls Do Ballet®

Tell us about your photo project. How many cities it traveled to? 

I’ve shot the project in 14 cities and exhibited images in four. This will grow significantly by 2023 as I finalize our first big, published book of the images shot since 2012… Several of the photos have found their way into various archives and collections, including the University of Michigan and University of Virginia’s course on “Global Black Girlhood.”

When you aren’t working on BGDB or photographing, what are you doing with your spare time? 

Spare time is such a foreign concept for me these days, but I love reading when I do catch some. I just started the Lightmaker Manifesto by Karen Walrond. Otherwise, I consider myself a foodie and am always trying to sneak off for some alone time eating at the many places I’ve saved to visit via Instagram. So if you’re out and about and see me eating alone, I promise I’m not lonely, just hungry.

photo credit: TaKiyah Wallace/Brown Girls Do Ballet®

What’s next for TaKiyah Wallace? 

… to continue to spend as much time with my family and friends… I’m finishing up my first book, and…I hope to have some time to devote some attention to a couple of other projects that I started after Brown Girls that could use a little care… [I want to] grow all of my projects into one massive one to benefit the neighborhood in Fort Worth (South Side) that raised me. But I’m keeping it a secret right now…

It’s time for the lightning round! Give us the name of each of your Fort Worth favorites: 

• Coffee shop – Black Coffee
• Breakfast/brunch place- Snooze, an A.M. Eatery
• Hangout with friends- Press Cafe
• Place to relax and recharge- The Ashton
• Museum or gallery- The Modern Art Museumof Fort Worth
• Artist or musician- Leon Bridges
• Yearly event – Growing up, it was always Mayfest
• Boutique- Prim & Proper
• Best bartender/cocktail: Game Theory’s Ice Breaker
• Sweet treat- The Queen’s Crumbs
• Hamburger joint- Griff’s
• Barbecue- Brix Barbecue
• Mexican restaurant- Joe T. Garcia’s