15. Sam Akins // Rising For Racial Equality In Ballet

// Rising For Racial Equality In Ballet

I am so excited to bring you the beautiful soul that is Samuel Akins!

Whilst taking time to pause, reflect, learn and unlearn during this radical time in history, I came across a powerful video on social media that the gorgeous Sam Akins posted. In this video he openly and honestly shares some of the racial discrimination he has experienced in Australia’s Ballet industry.

He is brave and vulnerable and I want to shine a light on his story. He has also encouraged me to share some of my experiences. I am aware that I have been brought up in white privilege, but as a mixed race person of colour I have also experienced discrimination which we discuss in this episode.

Sam is a very talented ballet dancer who moved from Birmingham, Alabama to New York City to study ballet at the young age of 14. Whilst studying he had many performance opportunities and danced with New York City Ballet.

Since graduating, Sam has performed various principal, soloist and company roles with Los Angeles Ballet and Alabama Ballet. Some of these include Cavalier, Tea and Candy Cane in George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker” and Bluebird, Puss in Boots, and Rose Adagio Suitor in “The Sleeping Beauty.”

Sam recently moved to Australia to continue his ballet career and in this chat he shares some of the adversity he has experienced here.

I hope you enjoy this powerful conversation and thank you for listening to Sam’s story.

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Sam’s petition for Racial Equality in the Ballet World: http://chng.it/cZSfqckqww