Today we’d like to introduce you to Darlene Blackburn.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was born July 12, 1942, at home in Morgan Park area of Chicago. I’ll be 76 this year (2018) and feeling really blessed. In Morgan Park, I was a Brownie Scout, Girl Scout and Senior Scout went to Shoop elementary school until the family moved to Englewood where I finished elementary schooling at Copernicus. I always loved the Arts and Sports. I graduated from Lindblom High School in 1960. I went to Chicago State Teachers College, it was called at that time and major in physical education and minor in art. My heart was in dance and I dropped out in 1962. I got a job with Illinois Bell Telephone as an information operator and took dance classes after work downtown. I studied with Jimmy Payne-Afro Cuban and Calypso (became a Jimmy Payne Dancer)Neville Black and Maggie Kast -Contemporary Dance, and Stone and Cameron Ballet. I would come home and on the weekends teach my neighbors children what II was learning. We started Those Who Want To Dance and I began going to clubs like Budland, Basin Street, and the Grand Ballroom loving to social dance and Latin dance.
In 1963, I met a dynamic drummer, Master Henry Gibson who ask me to audition for a band he was in Phi Cohran’s Artistic Heritage Ensemble and I became their solo interpretive dancer. I was still teaching my students and Englewood supported me. 1965, I started working at Englewood Urban Progress Center as their dance instructor. My director (John Bradley) encourage me to start an apprenticeship program there at the center with high schools students that would get paid to teach preteens to dance for the summer. I hired 20 teenagers that worked 5 hrs. 5 days a week to learn dance and teach that was the beginning of my troupe. The program worked out so well we continue it on a smaller scale in the fall. Now, I was working with Phil Cohran and forging my own troupe. I asked Phil Cohran if could I bring some of my dancers to rehearsal and they began dancing with the band too.
In 1967, we were dancing “On The Beach” (63rd Street) and 1968 “ THE AFFRO ARTS THEATRE (39th And Drexel). 1969, I went to Ghana, West Africa with Dr. Margaret Burroughs to studying with The Ghana Dance Ensemble and brought back many new African dances to the Community at Large because now I was performing in the schools for Urban Gateways and different Universities. 1971, I raised enough funds to take 8 dancers and 2 drummers to Nigeria, West Africa with the help of fundraisers with giant names like Oscar Brown Jr. and Jean Pace, The Pharaohs and commentators for my fashion show – Herb Kent and Yvonne Daniels and numerous male social clubs of the times The Bachelors, The Brothers to name a few. 1977, our company was one of the companies chosen to go to FESTAC IN NIGERIA because we received a standing ovation from our peers at the audition at Malcolm X College in Chicago. Later that same year 1977, I was invited to be Artist-In-Resident at the University of Calabar in the theater department to teach movement for actors and to start a Calabar Dance Company. This was such a great opportunity that I took on as a challenge to have the best company possible. It took about a year to get the best dancers and drummers to come together but we did and travel all over Nigeria representing Calabar University. I stayed there 3 years and returned to Chicago to finish my schooling in 1980.
In 1984, I graduated from Northeastern University in physical education and minor in dance. I worked at Kennedy King Jr. College while I went to Chicago State University and receive my Masters In Science from the physical education department in 1987. All this time, I kept a dance troupe because I worked at Columbia College in Chicago teaching African Dance and was constantly coming in contact with excellent dancers. When I finished my schooling, I taught at Calumet High School and started a dance troupe there that lasted 10 years or more. Illinois Art Council help me give students apprenticeship under me and Cultural Affairs help me do productions. I feel very bless to have had so much help on my journey. I retired from the Chicago Board of Education at Dunbar Vocational High School in 2013. I rested a year and then I became a caregiver for a friend and after his transition decided without a doubt I needed to get back into my yoga. Started taking classes with YogaCare a great organization that works to bring yoga into the neighborhoods and underserved communities that need yoga. I have been working with them for three years has become a certified yoga instructor from Yoga Skills Methods where I was instructed by Yersir Ra Hotep. Now, I am teaching in Englewood neighborhood Oak Street Health, Hamilton Park, and Englewood’s Satellite Recreation Center. Branching out on the South Side to 79th St. Haji Healing Salon and 95th Stoney Island Oak Street teaching Chair Yoga To Seniors. Because I believe I have a calling to teach…
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, I never had the financial funds because I did not have people in my family with money. My mother gave birth to me at 14 years of age and had to quit school to support me. So, I come from hard times but I never did let hard times defined me. I worked for everything I ever received because it gave me a sense of pride that I could do anything I wanted to if I was willing to work for it, I dropped out of college to get a job so I could take my dance classes but knew I would be finished just later. Struggles are a part of life I never allow them to hinder me having a child at 29 was a blessing and made work even harder to make sure she would not do without. I could go on but I won‘t…
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Darlene Blackburn – what should we know?
The Darlene Blackburn Dance Troupe were African American Dancers that specialize in telling their life story through dance when it wasn’t popular 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and were known for traditional African dances. Joseph Holmes and Alyo Tolbert started with Darlene Blackburn before founding their own companies Joseph Holmes Dance Theatre and Muntu Dance Theatre others have gone on telling of her inspiration Marcea Thomas living now in New York with her own high school dance company and many others who say they started African dance or became conscious of their heritage from either taking a class or seeing them perform. I am proud of even at this age, I am able to I inspire others to keep moving and be active in their communities. I have an active senior African dance class that performs and many seniors doing yoga with me to be role models.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Perseverance is key. To never give up…
Contact Info:
- Address: Haji Healing Salon- 746 East 79th St. curator Aya-Nikole Cook. Darlene Blackburn – Chair Yoga Classes Saturdays at 1:00pm to 2:30 pm for Mature Adults and Seniors (Plus Sizes Welcome)
- Email: darlene.blackburn@yahoo.com
- Facebook: Darlene Blaskburn
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