Where I’m Standing Now, and Who Helped Me Get Here
By Jasmine
If you had asked younger me where I thought I’d be at this point in my journey, I don’t think I would have had the words to explain it. I just knew I loved to move. I knew dance was where I felt the most myself. And I knew that when I was in spaces that truly saw me, I grew faster, stronger, more confident, more grounded.
Today, I stand at the edge of a new chapter—graduating, reflecting, and preparing to take my next steps forward, with deep gratitude for the communities that shaped me. One of the most impactful of those spaces has been the EDGE Black Youth Program.
EDGE was never just about dance. It was about belonging. It was about leadership, mentorship, and learning what it means to take up space unapologetically. In EDGE, I learned that my voice mattered. That my experiences mattered. That being a Black young woman in the arts was not something to shrink, but something to celebrate.
Through EDGE, I grew not only as a dancer, but as a mentor and leader. I had the opportunity to uplift younger dancers, support my peers, and contribute to a space that prioritized confidence, excellence, and community. EDGE helped me understand that leadership isn’t always loud, it’s consistent, intentional, and rooted in care.
Alongside EDGE, my journey has included intensive dance training across multiple styles, over 1,000 hours of community service and leadership, coaching youth in gymnastics, and mentoring young dancers who are just beginning to discover their own voices. I’ve learned that access to the arts is not equal, and that representation and inclusion are not extras, they’re essential.
Now, as I prepare to continue my education and training at Howard University, I carry EDGE with me. I carry the lessons of showing up fully, supporting others, and using movement as a form of communication and advocacy. I carry the belief that dance can heal, connect, and empower.
Where I am now is not a finish line, it’s a launch point. I’m stepping forward with purpose, grounded in community, and committed to giving back. EDGE helped shape the dancer I am becoming, but more importantly, it helped shape the person I am becoming.
To the mentors, leaders, and peers who created space for me to grow, thank you. To the younger dancers watching from the wings, keep going. Your story is unfolding, and you deserve every opportunity to dance it fully.
This is where I am now.
And I’m just getting started.