Franklin Battle
I began my career in dance with my selection to be in the cast Imagination Celebration Fort Worth’s, ground breaking production of the Debbie Allen/Kennedy Center Production of “Pepito’s Story” in 1998 at the young age of 6. My dream of becoming a professional dancer came to me early on when, attending a dance class with my cousin, I saw on the wall an extraordinary photograph of male dancers. I thought to myself, “I could do that too”!
When Ms. Debbie Allen and Imagination Celebration created the first Debbie Allen Dance Institute in the summer of 1999, I was given a scholarship and I have attended that program each summer now for 11 years. During this intensive two week program, I study many disciplines including Ballet, African, Tap, Modern, Hip Hop, and Flamenco.
I have also had the honor of being selected by Ms. Allen to attend the summer intensive of the Debbie Allen Dance Academy program in Los Angeles.
During the year I am a full time student at Margo Dean School of Ballet. As a dancer I enjoy all of the many styles of expression that I have studied, but I like Classical Ballet the most. It teaches you the most discipline.
I am now in the 11th grade at Arlington Heights High School in FWISD, I am enrolled in the dance program and I continue to work each day to achieve my goal of becoming a professional dancer.
I strive to model my dream after the lives of the amazing male dancers that I have been able to work in the ICFW Debbie Allen Dance Institute, including Alexander Pelham from Alvin Ailey Company, Titus Fotso, Torrie Counts, and Steven Smith, as well as Webster Dean and Robert Shannon from Margo Dean School of Ballet.
I have learned so much about the discipline of Classical Ballet through the amazing Kirov and Bolshoi masters who teach in the Debbie Allen Dance Institute - Madam Adrienne Dellas and Madam Alla Kasniavili. They have taught me what it means to be truly disciplined.
My other heroes are African American Tap dancer Gregory Hines and Katherine Dunham, whose “Dunham Technique” combines Ballet, Modern, Jazz, and Tap. Her technique keeps you energized!
Dancing has made me a better person, because it helped me to see past what people think of me. In dance, you can express yourself more freely. It gives you discipline, especially ballet. It keeps you fit and makes you stronger. Dancing has helped me overcome people picking on me. Through Dance I learned to be strong.
I am grateful to Imagination Celebration Fort Worth for giving me the opportunity to discover my dream, for helping me find a studio to study in throughout the year, for making the Debbie Allen Dance Institute possible and for helping me succeed in making this lifelong dream a reality.
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