Raven Barkley
Raven, from Bronx, NY, began dancing at age 10 at Ballet Tech, the New York City Public School for Dance. She furthered her training at the Fiorello H. LaGuardia Arts High School for Music and Art and Performing Arts, where she graduated with honors. While at LaGuardia, Raven also attended the Dance Theatre of Harlem’s (DTH) Pre- Professional Program as a scholarship student and performed with DTH’s Dancing Through Barriers Ensemble. While at DTH, Raven was selected as a featured dancer for the Scholastic Children’s book, “Beautiful Ballerina” by Marilyn Nelson. During the summer of 2013 and 2014, Raven performed choreography by Tony Award winner George Faison for the NYC SummerStage Performance Series. In 2015, Raven graduated summa cum laude with a BFA in Dance with a concentration in ballet from SUNY Purchase. In 2018, Raven was recognized as one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch.” She has performed works by Bryan Arias, George Balanchine, Aszure Barton, Eliot Feld, Robert Garland, Sasha Janes, Jiří Kylián, Jessica Lang, Robyn Mineko Williams, Arthur Mitchell, Matthew Neenan, Dwight Rhoden, Taryn Russell and Myles Thatcher.
- Hometown: Bronx, NY
- Dancing Since: Age 10
- Seasons with Charlotte Ballet: 4
- What is your most “powerful” dance moment or story? My most “powerful” dance moment was when I performed the lead role in the Winter section of Sasha Janes’ Four Seasons. As the only female surrounded by a group of men, I felt like I could hold my own and match their strength. I always feel powerful when something is challenging because it pushes me to find an inner strength that I never knew I possessed.
- Favorite thing to do on an off day: Read a great book and drink coffee. I’m also a huge shopaholic, so you can usually find me at the mall.
- Her most exciting dance moment: When I performed my first ballet solo during the release of the Scholastic Children’s book “Beautiful Ballerina”. As I danced, actress Lynn Whitfield read the words from the book
- Advice for aspiring dancers: “Continue to reach for your goals and appreciate all that comes with achieving those goals; both the challenges and success. Challenges are there to make you a stronger individual on your pathway to success.”
