ChicagoanSolomonDumas

By:HermeneHartmanMarch5,2018

Howdidayoungman,likeyou,fromtheSouthSideofChicagobecomeinterestedindance?MymotherwastheonewhoinsistedthatIgotoAileyCamp.IdidalotofcommunitytheaterintheSouthSideofChicago(Iwasinterestedinbeinganactor),andmymomthoughtitwouldbeagoodideaformetoknowhowtodance.ShehadseenAlvinAileyAmericanDanceTheaterperform,andheardtheywerehostingasummerprogramforinnercitychildren.Sheforcedmetogo,sothat’showIwasintroducedtodance.Wheredidyougotoschool?I attendedBettyShabazz InternationalCharterSchool,which isapredominantlyAfricanAmericanschool that specialized inAfrican centered education. It stressed the importance of black history, and all subjects were taught from an Afro-centricperspective. Ithinkthat’swhathelpedAlvinAileymakesensetome–Mr.Aileywasablackmanandhischoreographywasrootedinhisexperiences.HestartedthecompanyatthebrinkoftheCivilRightsMovement,andatthetimetherewasalotofactivismgoingon.WhatdidyoulearnfromtheAileyCamp?Ilearneddisciplinethroughdance,butAileyCampissomuchmorethanadancecamp,it’sapersonaldevelopmentcamp.Westartedandendedthedaywithaffirmations,andIdidn’tknowitatthetime,butthepowerofaffirmationsreallydoesaffectyouonacellularlevel.Itdoessomethingtoyourspirit,affectingyouspiritually,emotionally,andmentally.Westartedthedaysayingempoweringaffirmationslike:

IwillthinkbeforeIact.Iwilllistentolearn.Iwillgreeteachdaywithloveinmyheart.Iamawinner.Iamincontrolofmymind,body,andspirit.These statements are empowering, and they taught us self-determination. Being inAileyCampwasapowerfulexperienceforme.

YouarethefirststudentinAileyCamptoperforminthemainensemble,tellmeaboutthattransition?It’shardtoarticulateintowords,butthetransitionwasoneofthemostimportantmomentsofmylife.IwasamemberofAileyII from2010-2012,andafterAiley II, Ididn’tget into the first companyafterauditioning twice,but Ihadanopportunity toperformwithRonaldK.BrownandIdidalotoffreelancework.MajorityoftheworkthatIdidinvolvedcommunityoutreachinNewYork’sinnercity–IworkedinBrooklynattheBedfordStuyvesantRestorationCorporationandinHarlemattheSchomburgCenterforResearchinBlackCulturewhereIcreatedadance/dancehistorycurriculumforTheYoungScholarsProgram.ItwasamazingformetoseeeverythingcomefullcircleafterIjoinedthefirstcompanyinMay2016andperformedatLincolnCenteronemonthlaterinJune.Ididn’tinviteanyonetotheperformancebecauseitwasmyfirstperformancewiththecompany,Iwassonervous,andIhadn’tdancedwithanorganizationforfouryears.Iwascastinthe“SinnerMan”sectionofAlvinAiley’sRevelations,andIrememberwhenIranontothestageIheardpeopleintheaudiencescreamingmynameandinmyhead,I’mthinking,“Whoisthat?Ididn’tinviteanyonehere!”–ithappenedtobethestudentsthatItaught.ThatwasafullcirclemomentwhereIknewthiswassupposedtohappen.Irealizedbeingapartofthecompanywassomuchbiggerthanme.StartingoffasanAileyCamperandgoingintothefirstcompanyhasbeenadreamcometrue.IstartedmyformaldancetrainingwhenIwas14yearsold,andmyexperienceshowsdancestudentsthatanythingispossible.Mr.Ailey’slegacywasaboutbringingdancebacktothepeople,andI’madirectexampleoftheeffectthatdancecanhaveonsomeone’slife.Whatdoyougetoutofdance?WhenIwasfirstexposedtodanceasayoungman,dancetaughtmemanners,discipline,howtorespectwomen,howtocarrymyself,confidence,organization,preparation,hygiene,andittaughtmeindirectlyabouthealth–notjustwhattoeat,butthewaystotakecareofyourbody.Dancehasmademebecomeabettercitizenoftheworld.IlovewhatIdo,andIlovehowIfeelwhenIdance.

What'syourfavoritedance?Besides Alvin Ailey’s Revelations, there’s another piece of his entitled Cry. I don’tperformitthough–it’safemalesolothathechoreographedasabirthdaypresenttohismotherandhededicatedittoblackwomeneverywhere,especiallyourmothers.EverytimeIseethepiece,itresonateswithmebecausetherearespecificimagesthatI’mabletoidentifywithmymom,aunts,andgrandmother.There’samomentwhenthefemalesoloistportraysaqueenandanotherpartwheresheportraysaservant.ItremindsmeofmygrandmotherwhowasamaidintheSouthbeforemovingtoChicagoandthensheworkedasawaitressandinfactories.TherearesomanyimagesinCrythatMr.Aileywasabletocapture.Ittouchesmesomuch,Icanfeelthespiritofthesecharacters.I’veevensatinthewingsbeforeandcriedwatchingthepiece.LikeRevelations,Inevergettiredofwatchingit–there’salwayssomethingnewtodiscover.What'sonyourplaylist?Rightnow,I’mlisteningtoSZA,MeshellNdegeocello,Prince,andBlackPanther:TheAlbum–MusicFromandInspiredBy.Ialsolistentoalotofgospelmusic–somethingaboutitsoothsmeandremindsmeofmygrandmother.You'velivedinChicagoandNewYork,what'sthedifferencebetweenthetwocities?Firstletmesaythis:Iwouldn’ttrademyexperienceofgrowingupinChicagoforanything!Chicago–theSouthSideinparticular–wasaspecialplacegrowingup.Iknowinthemediathere’ssomuchnegativeattentionontheSouthSide,butthere’shumanity,community,support,andencouragement.TherearingandeducationthatIreceivedIwouldn’ttradeitfortheword.Weweretaughttoreturntoourcommunitytoshareourknowledgeandgiftswithfuturegenerations.TheChicagocommunityissimilarinNewYork.I’vecommunityworkinBrooklyn,andIfeelthattheyhavealotofprideandawarenessintheircommunity.MuchlikeChicago,therearealotoffestivalsthatcelebrateblackempowerment.Theonlydifferenceisthecultures–Chicagohasmoresouthern retentionsandNewYork isdiverse, running thegambit forblackdiversitywithall typesofpeople fromthediasporamovingtothecity.Youworkedfivejobsatonetime,whatwerethosejobs?IworkedasanassistantmanageratBarry’sBootcamp,startedacurriculumatSchomburgCenterforResearchinBlackCulture,independentlycontractedfortheNewYorkCityDepartmentofEducation,taughtartistinresidenciesatdifferentschoolsinNewYorkCitysuchasTheFrankSinatraSchooloftheArts,andtaughtdanceatseveralplaceslikeAileyExtension,TheAileySchool’sJuniorDivision,BedfordStuyvesantRestorationCorporation,andDanceCaviseStudios,amongothers.

YouhavesaidyouarenervousaboutdancinginChicago,although,youhaveperformedinEurope,whyareyounervousaboutdancinginyourownhometown?LastyearIwasnervousaboutdancinginChicagobecauseIhadn’tbeenhomeinfiveyears.BeforejoiningAlvinAileyAmericanDanceTheater,Ikeptmyselfbusyteachingatdifferenthighschoolsacrossthecountryanddancingwithseveralcompanies,butcoincidentallywenevertouredtoChicago.IwasnervousaboutperforminglastyearbecauseithadbeensolongsinceIsawthepeopleIwenttoschoolwithorknewfrommycommunity.But it’sgreat to be home and I’m looking forward to Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’sperformancesatTheAuditoriumTheatre,March7-11.