Dance Theatre of Harlem’s Ingrid Silva has a number of titles—dancer, founder, activist and writer amongst them. However the one which’s modified her life probably the most is “Mother.”
“Since changing into a mom, one thing’s occurred to me, my dancing and my work that’s blowing me away,” Silva says. “[There’s] a confidence that motherhood brings to your artistry that I’m actually having fun with.” She says that Dance Theatre of Harlem’s inventive director, Virginia Johnson, was extremely supportive of her transition to motherhood throughout the pandemic. And Silva’s colleagues are part of the village that, collectively along with her husband, helps look after her daughter, Laura. “If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t have been in a position to get again to dancing,” says Silva. “They at all times have my again—if I’m onstage, somebody is watching Laura, so I’m actually supported by them.”
Silva’s daughter Laura at DTH’s rehearsal studios.
Just like the meeting of her trusted village, Silva brings individuals collectively not solely via her dancing, however via virtually each different venture she takes on. She values creating group, elevating consciousness of social justice points, and uplifting others, which results in a variety of commitments exterior ofher schedule at DTH.
Beneath, Silva reveals how she balances all of it throughout a typical day.
9 am: Get up. Laura, who stays at house with Dad or one other caretaker throughout the day, is normally nonetheless asleep. Silva makes a cup of tea and rapidly showers earlier than strolling to DTH’s studios in Harlem’s Hamilton Heights neighborhood.
10 am: Firm class begins. Silva normally arrives 15–half-hour early to prepare and heat up earlier than class.
11:30 am: Rehearsals start. DTH is at the moment rehearsing repertoire for his or her nationwide tour and upcoming New York Metropolis season. Silva is engaged on a number of items, together with the principal position in George Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante and William Forsythe’s Blake Works—The Barre Undertaking. “We simply added The Barre Undertaking into our repertoire, and I’m so glad and so excited as a result of [Forsythe] is likely one of the best artists I’ve labored with,” Silva says.
2:45 pm: Lunch. Silva will normally stroll someplace close by to purchase a salad or a smoothie throughout the hour-long break.
6:45 pm: Rehearsals conclude for the day and Silva walks house.
7–7:45 pm: After returning house, she offers Laura a shower after which takes her French bulldog, Frida Kahlo, for a stroll. “Frida simply turned 9 and has a lot vitality! She does each exercise with us after we go exterior. My husband walks her throughout the day.” Silva will then make dinner for Laura.
8 pm: “I attempt to put Laura to mattress at 8—that’s what I purpose for! Generally I wrestle with that,” Silva says. She at all times reads her a bedtime story, which she believes will assist Laura keep concerned with studying. Silva lately wrote her personal youngsters’s ebook—her second—titled A bailarina que pintava suas sapatilhas (The Ballerina Who Painted Her Sneakers). The ebook, which launched in her native Brazil in March, shares Silva’s personal story, teaches youngsters about ballet, and celebrates range. “I can’t wait to convey the ebook house to Laura and see her response!” she says.
8:30 pm: “That’s Mother’s time!” Silva will take a bathe and eat dinner, and typically likes to calm down with a glass of wine.
Left to proper: DTH firm artists Amanda Smith, Silva and Alexandra Hutchinson in Odalisques Variations. Photograph by Theik Smith, courtesy DTH.
9 pm: Silva responds to emails and works on her different tasks, of which she is both the founder or co-founder. These embody Blacks in Ballet, an Instagram web page which highlights and connects Black ballet dancers and offers instructional sources and alternatives; podHER, a Latina-run group that creates group and empowers Latinas (the title is a play on poder, the Portuguese phrase for energy); and Dancers and Motherhood, an Instagram web page which raises consciousness concerning the distinctive struggles of moms within the dance world. Creating group on this scale is a variety of work, however very rewarding for Silva. “If we’d like conferences, I normally have them after Laura goes to sleep. In any other case, I’m responding to messages, seeing what’s taking place subsequent, what’s our subsequent plan,” Silva says.
10 pm: In any case her work is finished, Silva begins to wind down and prepare for mattress.
On tour: DTH excursions regularly, so Silva has a well-established routine on the street. “Our day is mainly the identical as it’s in New York, however we now have a two-hour break relying on when the present begins,” she says. For instance, the corporate could have class at 10 am and rehearse till 5 pm if the present is at 7 pm. In the course of the two-hour break, mom and daughter will each take a nap, after which return to the theater so Silva can heat up and do her hair and make-up. “Laura has been approaching tour with me since she was 4 months outdated,” says Silva. “It has been an incredible journey.”
If she has an extended break, Silva likes to discover town. “I attempt to make it as enjoyable as potential for Laura and make it about her, as nicely, so she’s not simply following Mommy round,” she says. After a night present, Silva likes to get again to her lodge room rapidly so she will be able to get Laura to sleep and maximize her personal relaxation time.
Tour tip: “I attempt to purchase dinner earlier than the present so we will simply return to the room, as a result of we frequently need to repeat the identical factor the subsequent day!”