Gabriel is an early-twentysomething Virginia native becoming his best self in New York City.

Incredibly shy when you first meet him, he completely and confidently transforms into the embodiment of strength and grace before your very eyes. And after you get over being awestruck and you finally ask him why he dances, it all makes sense. As he explains, “ [Dance is] the best form of expression for me. I’m not the best writer, not the best singer, not the best model (laughs). But when I dance, I feel at home.”

In many ways, the reason his movement is so powerful is because he embraces both the masculine and the feminine. “Being that my movement quality is ‘fluid’ and ‘graceful,’ there are times where my masculinity is challenged and I am asked to dance ‘stronger’ (whatever that may mean), or more ‘masculine,’” Gabe reveals. “But I think it’s important that…. people understand that there is not one version of a man and that men are complex and should in fact challenge those social norms.”

Whether he understands it or not, Gabriel is a gladiator. No, he doesn’t don impenetrable armor and he certainly doesn’t fight to the death against beasts, but he does fight against himself and valiantly remains committed to using dance–on and off-stage–to better understands who he is and, most importantly, who he can be. And like so many other fearless movers, he’s often had to do so while feeling alone and forced to figure it out, even when it felt like he was the only one in the world having to do so.

“ When I started dancing, I didn’t have a platform where I could see men be comfortable with being themselves. I think this [this campaign] will be important for young male dancers to see and think, ‘Oh wow, this is something I can do….’ Discovering my own voice and my own story, and finding dance and becoming comfortable with being a male dancer…there was no one that could tell me that it’s going to be okay or that your story deserves to be heard, and you’re not the only one going through this….I hope [this campaign] will inspire a lot of young male dancers to continue to do it or start doing it…. [because] dance changes lives just like it did mine.”

Gabriel proves that #WhenMenDance they change lives by vulnerably showing us what it means to never give up. To never stop. To discover all that is and all that can be within ourselves. So we can rise to the challenge and do the same.

Gabriel’s Full Story

My first live dance performance inspired me to dance. I saw Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater perform in my hometown in Virginia and I was absolutely mesmerized. To witness not only male dancers, but male dancers of color, was incredibly inspiring and forever changed whatever idea I had of what it meant to be an Black man in dance. From that moment on, I knew that I not only wanted to express myself through movement the way that I had witnessed that evening, but that I wanted to continue that legacy for African American males in dance.

Why do I dance? It’s the best form of expression for me. I’m not the best writer, not the best singer, not the best model (laughs). But when I dance, I feel at home–I feel like I can express myself best through movement.

And when I’m on stage especially, I feel like sharing that gift of dance is incredibly important to me because I was once a part of the audience–and I was once inspired [to dance after seeing a performance]–if I can continue that gift of giving back then my heart is always full.

I think common misconceptions about dancers are that they are weak and not as “masculine” as the average man which of course is not at all true. In fact, some of the most masculine, strongest, and athletic men I know are dancers.

I also find it beautiful that male dancers are able to defy social norms of masculinity. Former Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Dancer, Clifton Brown, is one of the best examples of that and also one of my biggest inspirations as a male dancer. His incredible ability to blend elements of fluidity and grace with strength and agility through movement is absolutely captivating.

Dance has certainly helped me become more confident in myself and who I am. And because I define who I am and the way I like to dance and my confidence through that, I’ve also defined who I am as a person. Dance in more ways than I imagined has helped me become the man I am today. In several aspects of my life, it’s developed a sense of discipline, it’s developed a sense of strength, and also just a sense of security within myself.

Growing up there wasn’t anything like [this campaign]. Discovering my own voice and my own story, and finding dance and becoming comfortable with being a male dancer growing up, there was no one that could tell me that it’s going to be okay or that your story deserves to be heard, and you’re not the only one going through this.

Dance has also helped me explore my masculinity and in some ways helped me to embrace it while challenging it as well. There are instances still where I am discovering what it means to be a “man” on stage and in the studio. But I find there is beauty in discovering that for myself and finding comfort in being who I am not only as a dancer but a man.

Things that I always struggled with inside and outside of the studio is loving myself and taking care of myself when I need to be taking care of myself, and just being honest and genuine within. Because dance is so challenging and because this industry especially is hard–it’s a difficult artform–it’s broken down a lot of shells that I have had.

And it’s kind of challenged me to be a strong man and to be strong within myself and kind of discover that if you can do this you can kind of do anything. Because [dance] is a performing art, you are constantly putting yourself in front of other people and proving yourself. That you’re good enough for other people, as well as yourself.

Growing up there wasn’t anything like [this campaign]. Discovering my own voice and my own story, and finding dance and becoming comfortable with being a male dancer growing up, there was no one that could tell me that it’s going to be okay or that your story deserves to be heard, and you’re not the only one going through this.

Being that my movement quality is “fluid” and “graceful,” there are times where my masculinity is challenged and I am asked to dance “stronger” (whatever that may mean), or more “masculine,” but I think it’s important that sharing this experience of many, that people understand that there is not one version of a man and that men are complex and should in fact challenge those social norms.

I chose to be a part of the #WhenMenDance campaign because I think it is incredibly important for men to share their stories. When I started dancing, I didn’t have a platform where I could see men be comfortable with being themselves. I think this platform will be important for young male dancers to see and think, “Oh wow, this is something I can do.”

Growing up there wasn’t anything like [this campaign]. Discovering my own voice and my own story, and finding dance and becoming comfortable with being a male dancer growing up, there was no one that could tell me that it’s going to be okay or that your story deserves to be heard, and you’re not the only one going through this. So, having this I hope will inspire a lot of young male dancers to continue to do it or start doing it.

Dance changes lives just like it did mine.