S02 E16: On the Alter Ego & Dance with Cortney Taylor Key

Author: Daniel Lamb & Anna Rosa Parker / Cortney Taylor Key
Published: Mon 04 Oct 2021
Episode Link: None

“I think it’s a teacher’s job to pull out the things that make you you.”

— Cortney Taylor Key

You may already know the name Cortney Taylor Key.

And if you don’t, you’re going to want to.

The talented dancer was featured in a June 2021 New York Times article about ballet’s strict gender norms and the queer dancers who are breaking through them.

“I don’t like the word No… so I can’t say no to myself,” Cortney says. She has followed that Yes from the Ailey School to the North Carolina School of the Arts, to meeting Cicely Tyson and Bill T. Jones of Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, to starring in #QueertheBallet's stunning dance film ANIMALS & ANGELS and dancing with another woman en pointe.

Cortney is really passionate about discovering and following her purpose, something that she believes that all creatives should strive for. “Be present with yourself as a child, as an adolescent, as a teenager… so that you can be what you’re supposed to be on Earth,” she explains, “If you die and you don’t follow your purpose, that’s going to go in the ground with you — we don’t even get to see it.”

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode of the podcast,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌

How your love and passion for your art can start to fade — and what can help you revitalize it
Why it’s important to take chances and be brave when it comes to pursuing the things you want to do (and meeting the people you want to meet!)
Cortney’s unique approach to working with photographers — and how having an alter ego can come in handy!

About Cortney Taylor Key: Cortney Taylor Key is a Black American lesbian woman who started studying ballet later than most, but has become a gifted and notable dancer who pushes boundaries with her art.

Highlights:‌

00:17 Intro

01:10 Meet Cortney Taylor Key

04:16 The road to dance

06:25 The It factor

07:20 Losing passion

09:30 Meeting people

12:40 Freelance dance career

14:22 Photography & personas

20:18 Lesbians in Ballet

22:00 Unity & community

23:20 Choreographers