A Star Returns to Durham to Help the Next Generation of Dancers
At Duke, Hope Boykin teaches master classes and takes her dance skills into the community
She concluded the week with a performance of States Of Hope, an autobiographical dance-theater performance held at Duke. Boykin choreographed the performance, in which seven dancers embody various aspects of her personality.
It was a triumphant trip home for Boykin, a Durham Academy graduate with deep family ties to the city. And it was a rare opportunity for local students to hear from an accomplished and successful artist.
Boykin’s resume is proof to young dancers that a career path from Durham to the professional stage exists, said Kristin Duncan, a dance teacher at Riverside High School. Riverside joined DSA, Northern and Jordan high schools in sending dance students to the Boykin master class.
“To see a career like hers come to fruition is very important,” said Duncan, who has also taught dance classes at Duke.
That inspiration is the point of community engagement, said Aaron Shackelford, director of programming at Duke Arts, which coordinated Boykin’s visit and performance. The arts presenting program routinely connects its professional artists with students both at Duke and in the broader community; he estimates that at least 75 percent of the artists Duke Arts hosts will take part in some sort of community or teaching event during their visit to Durham.
“It’s at the forefront of our programming,” Shackelford said. “While the performances themselves are incredibly impactful, one of the reasons why a university like Duke has a performing arts series is to connect these artists with academic work in the classroom and to bring a positive impact to the community.”
While Boykin presented States Of Hope at the Reynolds Industries Theater on Duke’s campus, many Duke Arts performances, special events, and workshops are held at Durham venues such as the Hayti Heritage Center, Pinhook, Motorco Music Hall and Hex Studio.
“We work hard to find artists who can perform in venues all over Durham,” Shackelford said. “It’s a key part of our mission. We view the arts as a valued ambassador for Duke in the community.”
As a young dancer, Boykin spent a lot of time at the Durham-hosted American Dance Festival. That experience helps explain her interest in boosting the next generation of artists. As a high school senior, she took note of the many dance companies who came to ADF and spent time with artists like her.
“I realized how kind they were to us young people who were wanting to do what they were doing, who saw them as, ‘oh, if they can do it, then I can do it,’ Boykin recalled. “And immediately I knew … that once you have the knowledge for something, you should share it. You know, hoarding it and keeping it for yourself is just selfish.”
In her recent 90-minute master class with the Durham students, Boykin was a swirl of energy and positivity as she led the group through a series of dance moves. She blitzed students with questions and doled out high-fives for correct answers.
But she also pointed out that in dance, screwing up is no big deal.
“We make mistakes!” she shouted at one point. “We work in a live art form. Stuff happens.”
Boykin’s positivity was infectious and disarming, said Draper, the Durham School of the Arts student.
“She talked about how dance is more about feel than about a look,” she said. “It was a very comfortable environment. She really advocates for you to be your best.”
Duke Arts & Durham
