Choreographer Laurieann Gibson On Overcoming Oppression As A Black Female Dancer

“Boom, kack” might come to mind  when you hear the name Laurieann Gibson.  Gibson is the woman responsible for coining this catchphrase in the dance world. And in her debut memoir, Gibson, an Emmy-nominated creative visionary and choreographer, opens up about the glass ceiling-breaking moves she’s made in an often oppressive industry. 

Her book, Dance Your Dance: 8 Steps to Unleash Your Passion and Live Your Dream, which was released in February, is inspired by the traditional eight counts of a dance routine but, it’s meant to  empower readers of all career paths to unlock their potential. The book includes anecdotes from Gibson’s career, including her first interaction with J.Lo on the set of a Heavy D music video audition and her final memory with The Notorious B.I.G. at an after party on the night of his untimely death. 

For(bes) The Culture spoke to Laurieann Gibson about her debut book, her personal experiences with hyper sexualization and misogyny in the entertainment industry and how the world of dance has shifted with the movement of Black culture amid social and political unrest. 

For(bes) The Culture: How have you seen the world of dance evolve and shift with Black culture and the social justice movements?

Laurieann Gibson: I’m especially grateful that a lot of young artists, myself included, have expressed their disdain with the oppressiveness of this country and this system through dance. Dance is a powerful tool to communicate and express without opening our mouths. We used to be very powerful to carry this gift. We don’t open our mouths and communicate; we have to express it through movement and motion. We have to be specific about how we move and how it provokes an emotion in the atmosphere because we don’t open our mouths. I’m very excited to see all of the talented, gifted dancers express their passion and their hope for change through dance.

For(bes) The Culture: How have you grown from the experiences and circumstances of hyper sexualization and misogyny in the industry that you speak about in your book? ?

Gibson: There was a time that left scars of insecurity, doubt and fear and I had to fight through those situations when I felt alone in the room, felt discriminated against, [or] I was too Black or not Black enough. That’s why in the book, I encourage and teach people how to hold onto the vision and the feeling of the dream even when you’re in a situation of oppression. As a result of fighting through that, I was able to understand that a man who was intimidated by my power had an issue with his own lack of ability. I received a revelation of how to fight through these levels of ignorance and those steps are in the book to produce that strength in other dreamers and female visionaries. You too will understand the problem is in the person and the limitation is in the projection of that person who holds that opinion.

For(bes) The Culture: What are some of the key lessons that you want readers to take away when diving into your book?

Gibson: One of my favorite steps—and you know why we call them steps because you’re a dancer—especially for this generation is “train and sustain.” I think it’s very informative and necessary that this younger generation understands that what you put into it is what will sustain you through any situation on your way to your dream. The amount that you put it in is what sustains you to go from level to level. Without that training, I couldn’t continue to win, evolve or go after any job that I had the passion and desire to go after. It was my training that sustained me through Covid-19. When the whole world shifted, we had to come up with a game plan. It’s that training that reminds you how to be creative, how to fall back on what it is you’re great at and how to not be moved by the circumstances. When Covid-19 hit, a lot of dancers had to go to their training or what sustained their choices and create different opportunities for themselves. 

I’m excited to show you the value through what I went through in New York arriving on a Greyhound to meeting Puff Daddy, to putting the Jonas Brothers together, to continuing “Making The Band,” to finally [creative directing for] one of the biggest pop star icons in the world Lady Gaga. My training sustained all of those different opportunities and allowed me to rise to the top because of what I had put into it in the beginning. Sometimes, this generation thinks that if it didn’t work the first time you tried, you’re not good or you don’t have the patience to become great. The process is not something they’re exposed to or something they expect. I like to give them the idea about how glamorous the process is because in the end, that’s how great your outcome will be.

For(bes) The Culture: You’ve worked with extremely powerful women in the music industry from Lady Gaga to Nicki Minaj.  When it comes to the business of dance, how does that correlate with the entertainment industry?

Gibson: I have definitely faced a lot of opposition as a very talented Black female. I face so many males that want to adjust [me] morally, or sometimes I thought about the shortcut and was like, “All I have to do is sleep with him. Get over yourself!,” but I didn’t and it did take longer. It was harder and that’s the truth. I took the longer road, the harder road and now if it’s something that you don’t wanna do, there’s someone that can inspire you through it. That’s in my book and you have to read the steps to become your own superhero because it’s possible that you don’t have to succumb to the sexual intimidation or oppressive mentality [from] some men in the business. It may be there, but you don’t have to choose it. I gained a revelation and I think that’s why I wrote the book.

There are women like Debbie Allen who have encouraged me and obviously there are extremely powerful women in the business. Regina King is somebody I look up to in the business and I’m just over the moon for Kamala Harris.

For(bes) The Culture: What advice do you have for all creatives, visionaries and entrepreneurs about dancing their dance and staying inspired?

Gibson: Don’t compare yourself. Don’t expect to find yourself in the world and feel comfortable with not being like anyone else. Feel comfortable with your originality. Embrace it, learn to love it, learn to draw your confidence with it. There’s a reason why you’re not like everyone else and there’s purpose in it. Get comfortable with sometimes standing alone in a crowded room. Most importantly, do not compare yourself or judge yourself against what’s happening in the world, in someone else’s job, business, dance, around you – trust your idea and trust your vision. Be confident with that vision and don’t adjust it because of what’s hot at the moment. You’re the one that will change the energy or create a new option to what’s popular, but don’t be insecure or feel like you have to adjust your vision to match what’s happening at the moment.