Inclusive Dancewear Brand Révolutionnaire Has Blossomed Into a Social Justice Platform
Nia Faith Betty co-founded Révolutionnaire with her older sister Justice in 2019 as a way to celebrate Black dancers. But what originally started as a dancewear line that offers apparel curated for darker skin tones has blossomed into a social network. Launched this past June, the network gives dancers from all over the world a safe space to share their stories and fight for social justice, offering support groups, community discussions and individual action items.
“Change starts with a conversation and ends with a movement.” Nia Faith Betty
Nia’s firsthand experiences of prejudice in the ballet world informed its creation. When she was a preteen at a studio in Toronto, “teachers would separate Black dancers in a different studio,” she says. “We were told that we were anatomically unable to execute the work properly and would never reach the level of our white counterparts.” She ultimately left that studio.
Révolutionnaire was conceived while Nia, now 19, was out of commission for 10 months following an injury. “I had so much time to think about my life,” she says. “I knew I wanted to share my story.”
