How Lindsey Donnell Fused Her Passions to Create an Artful Life
How did you first hear about Dance Theatre Of Harlem?
When the company toured to Midland, TX in the early 2000s, I remember seeing all black and brown ballerinas on stage for the first time ever. In Texas, it was a big deal that Lauren Anderson was a principal dancer at Houston Ballet. My aunt, who lived in Houston, would send me articles featuring Lauren Anderson. You mentioned feeling like you and Lauren were the “only”. Going to that performance was really eye-opening. Going to that performance in Midland was really eye-opening.
Tell us about your journey to DTH after first seeing the company perform.
Dance Theatre of Harlem’s professional company went on hiatus a year before I graduated high school. Any ideas in my mind of joining the company were shut down. I also had never been to New York City and people in Texas view NYC as this big, scary, faraway place. I was very academically inclined, so at the time I decided to get an education and dance for as long as I could, seeing what doors kept opening up for me. After graduating from Butler University, dance became my number one priority and I got a traineeship at Nashville Ballet.
Soon after, I read an article in Pointe magazine that said that Virginia Johnson was going to reopen the Dance Theatre of Harlem company in a year. I had double majored at Butler, Integrated Communications and Dance Arts Administration, and I thought “This woman has my exact same interests, it would be so cool to work for her.” Clearly, her legacy proceeded her as well. At that point, I had been to NYC, which was wonderful! Working for Dance Theatre of Harlem then became my goal.
How do you think your college experience benefitted you before joining a company?
My experience in college was, your mind is brilliant, you have thoughts and ideas, you can initiate. Especially at Butler University, which is a small liberal arts school, the professors encouraged us to be leaders and form our own organizations. Having that mentality really benefitted me, and continues to, the more I grow in my career. I think in any company, but especially at Dance Theatre of Harlem, you have to wear so many hats. My education at Butler opened my mind to step into different positions.
You have been working with Virginia Johnson since the company came back in 2012. What are the benefits of having a female Artistic Director?
Virginia Johnson is such an icon. Being in her company allows us to walk in her wake. There are so many people that want to connect with her. All of these people that I could only dream of meeting before moving to New York City. Women are often noted for their patience and nurturing qualities. I remember the first week I started at DTH, I was trying to find an apartment.
In every other company I’ve been in, it was expected you do that after hours. I remember Virginia saying, “It’s okay. You can go look at the apartment and come back later.” That made me feel like a person. When she meets an artist, she believes on giving them time and space in order to grow. She really wants us to be multi-dimensional. To not only think of ourselves as dancers.
What about ballet makes you feel empowered?
I think ballet is the ultimate exercise in having control of your body. Everything from the way it’s structured – using turn out, standing on your toes, using physics to pirouette – all of that is not natural for humans. Mastering that technique and doing it at a professional level makes me feel empowered.
What in the current repertoire makes you feel most like a woman?
William Forsythe’s Blake Works IV (The Barre Project). Forsythe allows us to make choices within the choreography. I feel like I can input myself. His choreography challenges me to use intuition on stage, to be surprising and spontaneous. He leans into the point that dance can be sexy. The movement isn’t inherently sexy, but it’s the choices you make and how you connect those choices to your womanhood.
Photo Credits:
DTH Company Artist Lindsey Donnell Headshot. Photo by Theik Smith
DTH Company Artist Lindsey Donnell. Photo by Rachel Neville
DTH Company Artists Derek Brockington and Lindsey Donnell in Blake Works IV. Photo by Theik Smith