A Dancer Returns: Veronica Russ

GROOVE OUT WHILE READING!!!

I guess it was about 4 years ago now that I decided to take one of my mentor’s African dance classes. I was extremely excited, as I am whenever my life allows for me to take class. I knew I would have a great time because I love African dance. There was this beautifully poised woman there and her son had come to tag along.  She is so striking and noticeable, and her movement is effortless. The joy coming from this moment has a sort of familiarity to it. The class continues and the energy is alive! After going across the floor the woman stops and speaks to me. She asks if I am a dancer and I tell her, I am. She then goes into how she was a former dancer who hadn’t danced in 10 years and this was her first class back.  We exchange a few more words, then continue on with class. The joy and ease as she glides across the floor now makes sense and I can only hope that my passion continues on as hers has. There are some people that you cross paths with who you’ll never forget. She was definitely one of those people.  

Fast forward a few months later. It's opening night and I am backstage warming up to go on to Play the role of Mary in Black Nativity.  Then suddenly, in walks this beautifully poised woman, still striking and still noticeable, you know the kind that you’ll never forget? My mentor immediately introduced us to each other.  I learn that she had played Mary for years in this same production and that I had some pretty big shoes to fill. It's funny how small the dance world is....she ended being friends with choreographer of the show. Once we figured out how we knew each other we laughed at the coincidence and she gave me a few pointers for my run as Mary. The rest is pretty much history, we have performed in numerous shows together and I even directed her wedding recently. One thing that hasn’t changed is my admiration for this woman. Her strength, her grace, her knowledge, her talents, her generosity, her realness…..everything about her I love!!! That’s why there was no way I could pass up the opportunity to sit down and speak with none other than Veronica Russ!

Our interview took place outside of a Starbucks on a beautiful summer day in Atlanta. I pulled out my iPad, hit record on my Quick Voice app, and the conversation took off from there. There were so many things I wanted to learn. I really wanted the perspective of a dancer who had traveled the world dancing and after 10 years of being away returned to that passion. What’s different? What’s the same? What are we taking for granted? What do we need to re adapt? The conversation ended up being very enlightening for me and I hope you have some eye opening moments within this article as well!

tWd: “Let’s get to it! What’s the difference between dancers then and now?”

VR: “I think the main difference is kinda reflective of what’s going on in society and a lot of things are impacted by technology. With technology, as well as with the way of the world, everything is very instant and with that dancers want things instantly. And what has a tendency to happen is everything acceptable to the youth comes with a lack of respect of what was. Why look to our elders when we can go online and get it on YouTube? Technically I think the dancers have improved! Once again with technology we have evolved. Dancers are gymnast now. Our bodies are even formed differently, we’re much more able. Old school dancers have a lot to give as far as wisdom goes, but we’ve never had to deal with the things with our bodies that these kids are doing now. Oh yeah…completely different. “

Veronica, makes a reference to an I Love Lucy episode where Lucy decides to take a ballet class. Those “booked dancers” from back then are technically nowhere near what dancers are today. I haven’t seen the episode, but I definitely want to check it out now!!! 

tWd: “What dancer trends from today can you just not deal with?”

VR: “Booty shorts! That’s slightly challenging for me and to each his own because everybody is doing it, but everybody don’t want to see your stuff! Apart from that, attitude. Attitude is everything….respect for yourself and your fellow classmates. This might just be a personal thing, but back in the day we had this unwritten policy that if you came into class late, well you went ahead and took a spot you could find in the back. Dancers come in class and they hop in front of the class in the midst of the class; it’s a little challenging for me and a pet peeve.”

She says that when she sees her students do this she stops class and explains to them how that is not acceptable to do. I think it’s awesome that she actually teaches dancers lessons in the middle of the class. It, after all, that's our job if we are given the task of teaching. In teaching dance you have to teach discipline and respect for the craft from the classroom to the stage.

tWd: “How do dancers train differently these days?”

VR: “Things are constantly evolving and back in the day there was less respect for other forms of dance. Now days the training is different and it needs to be different because when you hit the stage you are required to be a lot of different things. There was a point in time that ballerinas didn’t respect anything, but ballet. So the training now is different in that you need to be exposed to the different genres and you need to have a respect for them. You need to train in variety and you need to get out of your environment.” 

tWd: “What luxuries do we have now that we don’t realize?”

VR: “Oh! Easy, technology! You do not have to leave home to train to be a dancer. You have everything at your disposal. That’s the main luxury.”

tWd: “What should we re adapt? What have we lost that we need to get back?”

VR: “Thats a no-brainer….respect…whether or not it’s in the dance industry or across the board! There used to be a level of respect from the top on down.”

tWd: “How does it feel to be twice most of our age and still dance right along with us?”

VR: “Honestly, It’s an education because what you come to learn is that this thing (your body) only stops when you let it stop. Keiko Guest and others have helped to reiterate that this age thing is just a number and there are also certain advantages that the older generations have. When you’re older there’s a certain seasoning that you can add to make your food taste a little bit better. When you’ve been around for a while you pick up on things because you have experience. You recognize stuff for what it is. So how does it feel to be an older dancer? It feels awesome! It really does.”

tWd: “Do you realize how reveled you are and do you accept that “mother dancer” position?"

VR: “No! For me the dancer never arrives. At what point do you feel that you’ve arrived? Nevaaa!! Never! You know, be as real as you can possibly be. I do have a problem with older dancers who think they are dance gods. I’ve had so many individuals come up to me and say that I was such an inspiration. I’m like if one more of y’all say I’m an inspiration…I’m like when did I go to sleep and wake up an inspiration?? Lawd! That’s so funny because I went away 10 years ago and 10 years ago I wasn’t an inspiration so, it’s funny. I don’t consider myself to be anything, but one of the group. If I have anything to offer, it’s similar to what I offer my two boys at home, it’s just the worth of wisdom. I’ve been there done that a lot, but when it comes to this physicality I’m a student. Hip hop is next!”

As we were talking Veronica starts to speak about dancers that don’t think they’re good enough. The ones that I want to snatch up(and help) are the ones that allow people to tell them they’re not good enough and their self esteem is effect. When your self esteem is effected on the dance floor it’s effected in everything you do. We have stuff to do! Trust your talent and believe in what you can do.”

tWd: “Who are you?”

VR: “I am so complex I am simple. I’m a mother. I am soon to be Mrs. Russ…I am so excited about that. I am a survivor. I have stories of dark times nobody knows about and I sit her smiling as I say that. So, with that I am victorious. I am whoever I decide to be when I wake up that day!”

As The Supremes are singing Baby Love in the background Veronica leaves me with this last piece of wisdom:

“You get to a certain point in life where you realize you have one shot. I’ve been away for 10 years raising kids and I trained all over the world. My kids are my life now. I’ve never known love like this so I am mommy. We as human beings experience everything on 3 different levels: mind, body, spirit connection and those things can be very complicated if you don’t understand and if you are not aware. So, I am aware and I am incredibly blessed to be aware. So, for the remainder of time I am here oh, it’s gonna be sweet. Yeah.”