Alyah Baker, MFA in Dance ’21, is a dance artist and scholar working at the intersection of art and embodied activism. Her thesis project, “Quare Dance: Fashioning a Black, Queer, Fem(me)inist Aesthetic in Ballet,” examines the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality in ballet through the lens of Black Queer Women.
Learn more: bit.ly/3rEjpcr
Congratulations to MFA in Dance at Duke candidate Alyah Baker for being named Kenan Institute for Ethics Graduate Arts Fellow in Social Choreography and Performance for the 2020-2021 academic year! In her research, Baker is committed to foregrounding the body as she explores power, the politics of place, and identity. Read more: bit.ly/2LTRLXN
The Chronicle spoke to Alyah Baker from the Duke Dance program about what changes the program saw as a result of COVID-19. Video by Brandi Steirn.
"Dance at Duke gave me a chance to explore and grow in ways that are not always encouraged in an academic setting. It was a safe atmosphere where creativity was encouraged, where exploration was championed, and where artistry was honed. Every time I entered the studio for technique class or one of many rehearsals, I knew that I was in for an experience that was not only shaping me as a dancer, but as a person. Because of my Duke experience I am living my dream of being a professional dancer today!" Alyah Baker, T'03
Dance Program