Hi! My name is Gillian Clifford and I recently graduated from Howard University as a Dance major, and Strategic, Law, & Management Communications minor. Since the age of 12 until my senior year of high school, I was a part of a national competitive dance team and have studied all forms of dance. Throughout all my years of dancing, I have trained with multiple well known companies and organizations such as NYSSSA (New York State Summer School of the Arts), Joffrey Ballet, Alvin Ailey, Anthony Burrell, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, and the Radio City Rockettes. I wanted to work with Révolutionnaire because for years I have had to dye and makeup my shoes and costumes because the shade “nude” came in only one color. Révolutionnaire is so important because it not only provides dancers of color the convenience of being able to purchase dancewear and shoes in their skin tone, but it also teaches dancers of all shades that your skin color isn’t an inconvenience, and it is beautiful and individual, and NOT defined by someone else’s definition of what a dancer is supposed to look like. I’m hoping that with Révolutionnaire, and other influencers emphasizing the importance of making “nude” inclusive for everyone, the future of dance will be more colorful! And not just subject to one shade.
