As we celebrate Black History Month on the Encore blog, we’d like to introduce Aaliyah Dade!
Aaliyah, how are you involved at Encore Stage & Studio?
I am a teaching artist and Flip The Script actor!
What was the first show you ever did, what do you remember most about it?
The first show I ever did was Seussical at Kenmore Middle School and I played Maisie La Bird. I remember being so scared to play this role because I was a very shy kid and this character is someone who is very confident and brazen, which is the complete opposite of me! But I remember once we got to rehearsing my songs it became more fun and exciting to step into the role of someone so completely different from me that I forgot about how nervous I was to play this role.
What does it mean to you about being apart of a creative community?
Being a part of the creative community to me means sharing ideas, sharing values, and sharing stories most importantly because we all come from different backgrounds. These stories to me are what make theater beautiful. So when people from all different walks of life come together to create something it’s really beautiful and you can tell when it’s authentic. Alongside that I think it’s also important that artists in the creative community are constantly collaborating as a learning process, whether that mean choreographing dances together or reading plays together in the living room or sharing songs that you might think works for your friend, I think that’s so beautiful and important to the theater community as well!
What do you enjoy the most about teaching in the creative arts? Is there a specific moment that highlights why you continue working in teaching positions?
I think what I enjoy the most about teaching in the creative arts is just being able to share the love of performing with young children. I remember the teachers who shaped me as a child and how passionate they were about theater and it’s exciting to keep that cycle going.
What is your advice to young Black performers or technicians getting started in the arts today?
If you’re in the DMV Arlington area we’re so blessed to have so many theater and performance learning opportunities for young children whether that be at Encore or somewhere else it’s not something that you see often wear not only is the opportunity there. There’s also so many options for financial support that I was able to get as a young black performer and growing up in Arlington so I would definitely reach out to as many organizations as possible that offer theatre education!
Aaliyah Dade is a dynamic theatre dancer with over a decade of experience in musical theatre, acting, and dance. A graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with a B.A. in Performance and a minor in Musical Theatre, they have directed and choreographed for VCU’s SALT organization and teaches youth camps at Encore Stage & Studio. Their work in arts education also includes serving as a substitute teacher with Arlington Public Schools, blending classroom leadership with creative expression. Performance credits include acting in Flip the Script with Encore, working as a scare actor at Hersheypark, and as a performer for Camp Magic Door experience. Passionate about staying versatile and current, they continue to train by learning K-pop choreography in their free time!
Blog Contributor: Emma Crawford. Photos courtesy of Aaliyah Dade