Gabe Stone Shayer’s “Chale”

“I’ve been told many times in my career that my face looks like I’m giving attitude, that I don’t look princely, that my muscles are too pronounced,” says American Ballet Theatre soloist Gabe Stone Shayer, whose film “Chale” reflects on being a Black male dancer. “The facade of brazen ‘attitude’ they perceive is a reputation placed upon me.” Using an emotive contemporary movement vocabulary, Shayer’s dancing is tender with flashes of joy. “Chale” was filmed by Karim Kamar and features the song “Higher,” by Nigerian singer-songwriter TEMS.