WOMEN IN TRANSIT: Yasmine Lockett

                                words by Patrice Udeh                                                                                     photo by Emily McCartney

Yasmine Lockett, 30, a proud Atlanta native, makes a living as Site Coordinator for a non-profit organization called Dallas Afterschool. Dallas Afterschool acts as a resource to provide quality curriculum and training to after-school programs across Dallas. Although, this is how she pays the bills, dance is and has always been her lifelong passion. A dream chaser, Lockett moved to Dallas shortly after graduating from Brenau University in Georgia, to join the Dallas Black Dance Theater. Student turned virtuoso, don’t worry, this tiny Dancer isn’t done yet. Yasmine is determined to make her mark on the dance world. Never one to bend to complacency, Yasmine has her ambitious mind set on monumental goals for her future.

Tell me about yourself.

I don’t follow the rules. I was raised in a strategic plan household. The plan was go to school, get an education, then go to college, have a good career, get married, have kids, so on and so forth. I’ve put some of that on hold because I am a dream chaser. When you chase your dreams there is no rubric, no rulebook, no strategic plan. Things just fall into place.

What inspired you to be a dancer?

I started dancing when I was 3. I was put in dance class against my will. The first three years, I cried and acted a fool in class until I realized that I could compete and receive trophies. It wasn’t until around age 5 or 6 that I really started to enjoy dance. I began taking real dance classes at this studio in Atlanta, joined a small dance company, did the whole Abby Lee Miller dance stuff. I competed across the U.S. and started racking up trophies. I loved it. I danced in high school then eventually I went to college and majored in dance at Brenau University, a female liberal arts college that has one of the top two dance programs in the state of Georgia. After graduation, I auditioned for Dallas Black Dance Theatre. The Director at the time knew the studio owner I grew up with and upon graduation she contacted me that there was an opening for a dancer my size with my skill set. I put together a video, sent it to him and then he came to Atlanta.  I did an in person audition and three weeks later I was in Dallas. Dance is why I am in Dallas. 

 photo by Emily McCartney

What is your opinion of Dallas Arts’ scene?

It's colorful. When I lived in Atlanta eight years ago, the big thing as far as performing arts for black people was hip hop. It may have changed now but at the time I didn’t want to set in Hip Hop as a back up dancer. I trained my whole life in ensemble dance and ballet, that’s what I wanted to do as a performing artist. So whether it was Dallas or New York, I was excited to go to be able to do what I was passionate about. It was surprising when I first moved to Dallas. When I said it was more colorful than Atlanta, I mean more diverse, especially in the performing arts scene as an African American woman. There were more job opportunities in contemporary, ballet, African, not just hip hop. I feel there is more respect for the arts in Dallas. In Texas as whole, if you ask me. I like it. It wasn’t I expected because Atlanta isn’t as big as Dallas and there was less representation. I was surprised that a bigger city offered more.

Who were your early artistic influences?

Savion Glover. He wasn't an earlier influence but he's been a big role model in my life for the last 20 something years. Gregory Hines. Tap is my first love, I keep tap shoes  in my car. If you go into contemporary setting, I was always a fan of Virginia Johnson with The Dance Theater of Harlem. Judith Jamison,  Alvin Ailey, and Carmen de Lavallade who I met while dancing with The Dallas Black Dance Theater. Mia Micheals, not many talk about her but she is my modern day influence. 

 photo by Emily McCartney

What has been your experience as a woman in the arts positive or negative?

It is rough especially for black women. If you're not apart of an all black organization or if you don't look like you're born in Russia, you’ll get passed up left and right. So I always make sure my personality and skill set on point. The ideal dancer is a thin, flexible, and appeasing to the eye. I’m appeasing to the eye but I was never very thin or flexible. I always have to work harder than the average girl. In the black dance community, people are real cut throat about who you know. If you don't know somebody, you're not going to get the job. Thankfully, I knew someone and had the talent to match but my career started because I knew someone. Even after I got the job. I was always auditioning even though I was a member. I auditioned everyday. It was tough.

In the dance community, you’ll be asked to lose weight even though you’re small. You have to look a certain way. I have a lot of hair but it has to be straight and long. There's always something you have to work on and once you master it there's something else. I’m 5’1” and most companies want their female dancers to be 5'3" and above. I always have to show them why they need to pick the short girl.  I needed to show them my talent was beyond being thrown in the air like most short dancers are. For me, it has always been a struggle but I love it. It has always been a passion. I don’t regret any of the experiences I've gone through. 

What inspires you?

The wow factor. I like making a difference. I like setting trends. I like waking up everyday excited about what I'm going to do. I've always prided myself on the experience over the money. Being able to make a difference in someone else’s life inspires me the most, which is why I do what I do for my 9-5 job. I make difference in the lives of children and those who work with children. I love it.

photo by Emily McCartney

What gives you the most joy?

Being able to provide the things that I was given growing up to kids whose parents can't provide that. When I was growing up, my parents paid for my dance tuition. They struggled but they still did it. I didn't rely on my school to have a program or some nice person who wanted to teach me. My parents paid for it. So being able to provide those services for kids who don't have those resources available gives me the most joy. That’s what attracted me to the position. I was able to combine all my dance and art experience to design quality programs in Dallas to underserved kids.

What is it in your opinion that you bring to the table artistically that is unique to you?

I’ve played every role. I've been the child growing up having to take classes in dance and art. I've taught dance or art class. I've been a site coordinator that has designed and provided programs. I've been the performer, I'm still the performer who goes on stage, takes her crafts, and performs in front of diverse audiences. I've been a trainer to people who provide art services to others. I feel like having all that experience makes me well rounded and unique.

What's next?

It's time for me to start my own foundation. I wanted to be a studio owner for a long time but my blueprint has expanded to a foundation. A one-stop shop. For example, someone comes in with three kids, one want to do music, one likes dance, the other want to play football and they can all receive all the resources for each area at the foundation. I want to run it and I want all the people I made connections with over the last ten years to assist me with it.