Redefining Ballet for All
Ja’ Malik’s journey into ballet began as a child, around the age of 10, when he saw his first ballet performance of “Giselle.” “I fell in love with it,” Ja’ Malik recalled. “I hadn’t seen anything like it before. The magic, the storytelling, the costumes.” However, he didn’t see any Black or Brown dancers on stage, so he never considered ballet as a possible career for himself.
That perspective changed when he saw a performance by Cleveland Ballet. “The prince looked just like me,” said Ja’ Malik. “Seeing someone who looked like me on stage made me want to pursue ballet.”
Ja’ Malik has drawn inspiration from many sources throughout his career. He speaks highly of the directors he’s worked with, describing them as “giants of the dance world” who have inspired him by how they carry themselves and break barriers.
In addition to his inspirations, Ja’ Malik finds daily motivation in the dancers at Madison
Ballet. “They work so hard and don’t receive a lot of pay,” he said. “That’s the whole reason I’m in Madison and work so hard to push Madison Ballet forward.”
As artistic director of Madison Ballet, Ja’ Malik is deeply committed to community engagement, particularly through education and outreach programs. Madison Ballet offers free and low-cost programs to the community in order to keep ticket prices affordable and make ballet accessible to everyone.
“We also have a school where we encourage young people all the way up to elders to take classes,” Ja’ Malik explained. “You don’t have to take ballet to become a professional dancer. It’s a great way to stay in shape and meet people—there’s a zen quality to it.”
Madison Ballet is committed to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion, values that Ja’ Malik embodies as a young, Black, queer man from New York City. “Ballet has allowed me to travel all over the world,” he shared. “When ballet is open and accessible to everyone, it is life-changing.”
The upcoming season will open with “Rhapsody in Blue,” celebrating the 100th anniversary of George Gershwin’s iconic piece. The program will feature new works and live music, offering fresh, contemporary takes on ballet. Ja’ Malik is eager for the Madison audience to see this performance. “It’s a great way to kick off our season!”
Looking to the future, Ja’ Malik has big plans for Madison Ballet. “My goal is to get us into financial stability,” he said, expressing the need for a new building. “We are in desperate need of a new home—one that can accommodate our growth and secure our future.”
