Q&A: Melissa M. Young and Dallas Black Dance Theatre
In her 27th season with Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Melissa M. Young has moved beyond the identity of dancer into an artistic director role that encompasses not only the staging and direction of a ballet company, but also education and advocacy in the community for the cultural experience of Black dance. In our interview, Melissa shares about her journey as a first-generation American, studying dance with The Ailey School, and how those experiences prepared her to lead a performing arts nonprofit in the face of a global pandemic and heightened awareness of racial injustice.