An Upward Movement With ADT
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To All ADT Dance Families and Students,
Over the past several weeks we have seen continued injustice in our world, in our nation, in our state and in our community. The Alabama Dance Theatre is outraged by the senseless deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and all Black people who have died at the hands of those sanctioned by centuries of systemic racism embedded in our nation's institutions and structures. ADT is committed to work towards eliminating the pain and grief that our Black dancers feel. We want to have an open dialogue with all our families and students. We DO NOT want this to be a post on social media for one-day and it stops there. Black. Lives. Matter. 
Just as dance is movement, so can movement create and promote inclusion of all.
Over the past year we have been #ADTStrong. Now is the time to make #ADTStronger. We all have a voice! With peace! The Alabama Dance Theatre |
Help us to understand. We see what is being said. We want to listen. We want to do what is right. But what is that exactly and how do we get there? The past three months proves just how much we need each other. COVID-19 requires us to be apart for much longer than expected. ADT is working diligently to implement measures to ensure the safety for our students as we move to an opening date. We now recognize ADT must ensure our dancers are safe and secure emotionally. ADT has not been "silent" - discussions have been on-going this week. ADT will be working to rethink, rebrand and rewrite our current mission statement to address the painful issues and incidents of inequality facing not only our ADT dancers, our families, but the dance world that we are so close too. This is a call to action. This is a call to come to the table for serious conversations. Dismantling racism is not a one-act performance. It will be a work-in-progress that must be developed and shaped by all of us. 
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