"I will never forget the first time that Chloé Arnold came to my home studio when I was about 8 years old. As a biracial child who grew up in a predominantly white community I always felt different. Not only did I feel like the odd one out in my neighborhood, but also my immediate dance community. As a competition dancer, Tap Dance was never valued as much as other styles like ballet or contemporary. I was so inspired to see a strong Black woman who looked like me be so successful in tap dance.
When the opportunity to become a member of the Sole Talk Youth Company came around, I immediately joined to connect with a diverse group of peers. I was extremely young and shy, but thanks to Chloé and Maud, I was finally able to break out of my shell and find my voice. I would not be the same person I am today without their mentorship over the past decade. Not only did they help me grow as a dancer, but also as a person. Through the Chloe and Maud Foundation, I have been able to connect with people from Brazil, LA, Africa, Washington DC, and New York while interning at their tap festivals. They have also made my dreams come true by inviting me to travel to New York to workshop a Broadway musical during Christmas. Working with so many successful Black women is inspiring and pushes me to never give up on my dreams.
I am lucky to be able to call these beautiful people my family. It has been so inspiring to learn from mentors of many different cultures, backgrounds, races, and ages. The Chloé and Maud Foundation intentionally seeks out dancers and mentors who share their passion for tap dance, but more importantly for humanity and uplifting their community. Their joy for life is infectious and inspires me to continue chasing my dreams. I will be graduating high school this year and plan to follow in their footsteps of higher education while continuing to spread joy through tap dance. I am forever grateful for the Chloé and Maud Foundation for all the opportunities they have given me to become a confident young woman and I hope they will be able to reach other children like me."