As an inclusive and anti-racist coach, it is important to be clear that you stand with your dancers, students, families, and communities of color. As our nation faces very public reminders that we still have a long way to go before we live in an equal society, we know that there are a lot of hard conversations ahead. It’s all of our responsibilities to create and promote inclusive, anti-racist programs. Below, you can find a (non-exhaustive) list of commitments you can make to promote inclusivity and anti-racism in your program.
BE COMMITTED TO:
Continued Education
Do not shy away from conversations centered around race and inequity. Actively work to acknowledge your own privileges as white coaches, and help dancers understand their privileges and how to use them to lift up others.
Culturally Competent Materials
Conduct ongoing reviews of your handbook, policies, and rules. Understand that not all families have the same resources or circumstances and be proactive about providing accommodations and support.
Inclusive Make-up and Costuming
All dancers deserve to feel confident and comfortable in their costumes. Offer tights, shoes, and costumes in all skin colors and sizes and do not have restrictions on brands for dancers’ individual items.
Team Culture
Lead with your core values, inclusivity, and anti-racism at the heart of all conversations and decisions. Be swift to take action when a team member acts against these values.
Highlighting Diverse Dancers
Bring in guest teachers of color, share dancers of color on your social media accounts, and continue to build relationships with dancers of color in the broader dance community.
Eliminating Implicit Biases
Use the data-driven systems (like Tiers System) to help make fair and transparent coaching decisions.
