Photo: Alexander Thomas./ @dancerimages on Instagram.
To Dreyfoos Performing Arts High School senior and dancer, Alexander Thomas, it meant the world to co-star in last year’s Nike campaign for Black History Month with professional ballerina Ingrid Silva. He recalls always wearing Nike clothes, shoes, and wanting to be sponsored by the company. Having looked up to trailblazers like Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Serena Williams, and Cristiano Ronaldo, he was honored to join the list of featured athletes.
“To be noticed for my actions, I was definitely speechless. Nike’s been a platform to bring people together and unite people as a whole. I was super excited to be a part of it,” he said.
The filming process was a lot of fun for Thomas who had done two commercials and short films from a young age. He met Ingrid Silva during the one day shoot and remembers being inspired by her many ventures.
Narrated by Serena Williams, the Nike campaign aired during Black History Month in 2020 highlighting Thomas and Silva’s experiences, accomplishments, and struggles as dancers in the ballet industry.
“It was honestly incredible. It was a long day and constant shooting. Everybody was super nice, super relaxed, very heartwarming. I thought I had to come in with a certain expectation that they saw through my audition video but they just told me to be myself, that’s the reason they chose me. From there I just gave them everything I had,” he said.
Photo: Alexander Thomas and Ingrid Silva for Nike. / Ike Edeani
Thomas has been dancing since he was two years old at That’s Dancing studio. He attended Bak Middle School of the Arts and Dreyfoos School of the Arts for high school. This will be his fifteenth year dancing.
He admits that the biggest challenge has been lack of diversity within the industry. Dancewear companies just started making colored tights a few years ago. A detail that Thomas outlines “people of color would have to go out of their way and dye their tights to actually fit into what they should look like.”
He also noted many choreographers are fixated on a specific type of dancer instead of looking beyond that and taking into account dancers’ hard work.
“I know a lot of people that are of color, of a different ethnicity, and they’ve worked so hard but they don’t get the job or the role that they should’ve gotten. It’s very upsetting and something that we’ve gone a long time just standing in the back. I feel like it’s time we really step forward and stop being so comfortable sitting behind barres or the lead role and really just show everyone that we’ve been here. We are just finally being noticed for what we can do.”
According to Thomas, the ballet and dance industries can look beyond what they think ballet should’ve been and look at what ballet is going to be in the future. He mentioned Misty Copeland is one of those leaders who started to open a path for African American dancers.
“You have all these other undiscovered Black artists, Mexican artists, or Asian artists that are really trying to pave a way, but they’re just not getting noticed because the choreographer or director are very fixated on one person. That person can only be doing it for so long. I think it’s time that the ballet industry really steps forward and comes out of that era of it’s only this dancer and really moves forward to start bringing other people out,” he said.
Thomas recently launched his non-profit organization called Styles 4 Smiles. He was inspired to create it after taking a young dancer to get a haircut.
“He was so ecstatic whenever he got his hair like mine. After mentoring him, I saw a boost in his confidence and I initially thought a simple haircut can do this for him. How can I do this for other people? I know a lot of people that may need five seconds of attention and a reason to smile again. I know in my culture, a haircut is the best way to feel fresh. It was the love and attention and self worth that just made him feel ultimately like a new person so I wanted to help more children feel the same way.”
Photo: Styles 4 Smiles Photoshoot./ @alexanderrthomas on Instagram
Back in February, he noticed Ingrid Silva had her own nonprofit which was followed by months of planning and he began his foundation in June. With the help of his mom and a family friend, Thomas has been able to manage his foundation, college applications, high school, and dance training.
The Styles 4 Smiles website launched a few weeks ago and has already raised 1,500 dollars with the first merchandise drop. People can support the foundation by purchasing shirts, hoodies, and hats from the website at www.styles4smiles.org or donate directly and all the proceeds will go towards kids’ haircuts.’
“You can donate any amount. Any amount is very appreciated. Soon we will be doing major things, trying to get those haircuts in, and it’s something I’m willing to continue for the rest of my life,” he said.
Photo: Alexander Thomas and friends preparing to participate in the Super Bowl Halftime Show for 2020. @alexanderrthomas on Instagram
Last year, Thomas participated in the Super Bowl and got to rehearse with JLO and Shakira. He met a lot of new people and made connections even meeting jazz artist and saxophonist Masego who he has always admired.
“We had little moments where we would say Hey JLO and they would just wave back at us. It would be like a huge moment for us and it was just crazy. It was a day I will honestly never forget,” he said.
He was also one of the dancers that got to compete in the international ballet competition, Youth American Grand Prix in 2020. He prepared with his studio co-director Michelle Walsh and ballet soloist Jayson Douglas through many privates and rehearsals to get his ballet up to par. His contemporary solo was choreographed by Christopher Huggins. Thomas won first place in the contemporary category.
Photo: Alexander Thomas received first place in the contemporary category at Youth American Grand Prix. @alexanderrthomas on Instagram
When it comes to summer intensives, he attended the Alvin Ailey and Boston Ballet programs. They both taught him different perspectives of dance and helped him broaden his horizon contributing to his growth.
“They taught me to be confident and dance 100% always. If you have to step out of your comfort zone, step out because that’s the only way you’re going to grow. Choreographers and artists will see that you’re not limiting yourself to one thing.”
Being a versatile dancer, Thomas also practices tap and even learned from professional tap dancer Maurice Hines at SoFlo Tap Fest. He notes the importance of tap for his training because every teacher brings something new, whether it’s listening to different types of rhythm or improving to different music.
“I found out that I started to become more connected with music. I’ve been able to count music and be on time better with my other dancing. For jazz I’ve been able to hear inside tones and rhythms that the typical ballet dancer wouldn’t hear,” he said.
Although he has accomplished so much already, Thomas is excited for what the future holds and is keeping his options open. He would love to expand his non-profit organization globally, become a concert or commercial dancer and do more work in TV and film.
So proud of you Alex! Reach for the sky!!!