NATALIE & ISAAC
DANCING FOR THE ARTS EMPOWERMENT PROJECT
NATALIE FRAZIER ALLEN
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Arts Empowerment Project
Natalie Frazier Allen, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Arts Empowerment Project, is an attorney whose passion for the arts and personal commitment to advocating on behalf of children impacted by trauma inspired her vision for The Arts Empowerment Project.
Growing up in New York City as the daughter of a classically trained music teacher of inner-city youth and a professional photographer and advertising print specialist, and as an artist herself, Natalie experienced firsthand just how the arts can expand a child’s horizons. While her early love for music, painting, and dance shaped her world view, she ultimately pursed a career in law as an attorney. Natalie’s legal journey included serving as Chief of the Domestic Unit in the Attorney General’s Office for the District of Columbia. After relocating with her family to Charlotte, she served the community as a Mecklenburg County Guardian ad Litem volunteer, advocating for the best interests of abused and neglected children.
Motivated by her commitment to youth and passion for the arts, Natalie founded The Arts Empowerment Project, which uses arts as a vehicle to break the cycles of violence and trauma and ignite change in vulnerable youth. Since its pilot launch in 2014, the organization has served over 3,000 children and teens in Charlotte by inspiring positive self-expression, resilience, and community connections.
Natalie will be dancing for The Arts Empowerment Project to enhance and expand the organization’s delivery of high-quality arts programming and opportunities for students in grades K-12, which broaden horizons, foster resilience and build essential life skills. Through the transformative power of the arts, children can find hope, healing, and alter the trajectory of their lives.
In addition to her work with The Arts Empowerment Project, Natalie has previously served on the boards of the Harvey B. Gantt Center, Youth Villages, the Women’s Impact Fund Board of Directors, and as Board Chair of the Mint Museum’s Board of Trustees. She currently sits on the board of the VAPA Center, the Mint Museum’s Advisory Board, and the Advisory Board of Johnson and Wales University.
Natalie earned her J.D. from The George Washington University’s National Law Center, and her B.A., magna cum laude, from Spelman College. Natalie has lived in South Charlotte since 2007 with her husband, Hugh Allen, and their two children.
GET TO KNOW NATALIE
- Fun Fact: At 16, I attended my first and only “cattle call” open dance audition In NYC for a film called The Cotton Club and auditioned in front of the legendary Gregory Hines! While Mr. Hines offered very kind and generous words of encouragement, I concluded that becoming a dancer would be a huge stretch (pun intended) for me, and that I was much better off pursuing my interest in becoming a lawyer!
- Dancing Experience: I was enrolled in local area dance schools growing up in Queens and participated in a few recitals and performances, but the prospect of bruised and blistering feet became a deal breaker. Recreational dancing is just fine for me.
- Why did you choose to support Charlotte Ballet? I am a creative at heart who believes in the transformative power of the arts. Combining the opportunity to support of programs which offer paths to hope, healing, and opportunity for children in our community who in need it most with supporting Charlotte’s preeminent and most celebrated dance institution was a no brainer. Ballet and the beauty of the arts should be accessible to everyone, no matter their circumstances. Not only does the Charlotte Ballet have a history of engaging and contributing to Charlotte’s cultural community, it also Charlotte holds a special place in my heart since my daughter was a student at the academy from age 10-14. While she did not pursue dance as a career, the discipline and self-confidence that she learned as a student will always be with her. As a former ‘dance mom’, I also admire the dedication, perseverance, and sacrifice of the dancers who give so much to share their talent and perfect their craft.
ISAAC AOKI
Seasons with Charlotte Ballet: 2
Originally from Salt Lake City, Utah, Isaac Aoki made his debut at three as a frog in Thumbelina at the University of Utah. He does not remember a time he didn’t love dance. He went on to study at Ballet West Academy, performing yearly in its Nutcracker. He then earned a full scholarship to the Kirov Academy in Washington DC where he studied Russian Vaganova technique. He then successfully auditioned for a full scholarship at the Professional Division program at Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle where he studied for two years and performed with the company. From the age of 14, he attended programs every summer on scholarship – Kaatsbaan, The School of American Ballet, Miami City Ballet School, Springboard Danse Montreal, and Nederlands Dans Theatre.
Isaac was invited to join Grand Rapids Ballet in 2013 by its then new director – Patricia Barker, former principal dancer with Pacific Northwest Ballet. During his time there, he danced contemporary and classical works by George Balanchine, Lar Lubovitch, Jennifer Archibald, Olivier Wevers, and Alejandro Cerrudo. Isaac also originated roles in new creations by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Penny Saunders, and Robyn Mineko Williams. While living in Michigan Isaac was also a guest artist with Hubbard Street II, touring to Germany and at Lincoln Center to perform works by Alejandro Cerrudo, Peter Chu, and Bryan Aryias. He has choreographed four ballets since the inception of Grand Rapids Ballet’s Jumpstart series, in which company dancers create their own works. He is most excited to join Charlotte Ballet and become part of the diverse and culturally rich Queen City.
GET TO KNOW ISAAC
- Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah
- Dancing Since: Age three
- What inspires you as an artist? I am interdisciplinary – in addition to dance I like watercolor, photography, and film. I took what I learned from studying painting, and from from my dad, who is a professional cinematographer and art photographer. I love taking pictures of dancers, especially in nature. In 2016, I was Grand Rapid’s Artprize 8 first place winner from 1,200 2D entries for a series of 8 photographs featuring dancers in the snow near Lake Michigan. I still can’t believe what good sports they were. I have also directed several dance films.
About The Arts Empowerment Project
The Arts Empowerment Project is a 501c3 organization dedicated to providing high-quality arts programming, enrichment experiences, and social-emotional development for children in need of access to light, hope, equity, and opportunity, which together offer paths to resilience. Our programs combine meaningful and high-quality art instruction with developing life skills such as communication, self-esteem, decision-making, personal branding, leadership, goal setting, visual literacy, and exploration of social justice through activism through art and positive self-expression.
Our mission is to break the cycles of violence through arts opportunities that ignite change in vulnerable youth. Our vision is a community that gives every child arts experiences that broaden horizons, foster resilience, and build essential life skills.
In 2014, we began our journey with a pilot program serving 25 students. This year we celebrate 10 years of impact and have touched the lives of over 3,000 youth in grades K-12. By providing trauma-informed arts instruction, we engage students in performing, visual, digital, and culinary arts throughout the year. We serve the children in Charlotte who need it most, many of whom are navigating the foster care system and others who are referred to us through our collaborating community partners. For ten years we have created a safe space which promotes resilience by offering an outlet for expressing complex emotions, practicing mindfulness, and making social connections, helping vulnerable youth create a sense of belonging and community.
We are continuing to build life skills with our students through several programs, including our Promoting Peace + Justice program with CMPD as well as our Culinary Arts Program, which provides cooking instruction by professional chefs and connections to career opportunities, healthy eating, and shopping skills that all youth will need when they one day live on their own. The money we raise through DWTS will not only help us continue our critical programs but will support the renovation of our current kitchen and classroom space, which are over 30 years old. Being able to replace our old plumbing, appliances, equipment and furnishings will have a tremendous impact on our students as they reach for the stars.
LEADERS AT A GLANCE
Check out the fundraising competition live via the Star Dancer leaderboard. Support your favorite Star Pair and cast your vote by purchasing tickets or making a donation. All ticket sales and donations received are split 50/50 with Charlotte Ballet and the Star Dancer’s chosen charity. $1=1 Vote! Thank you to all of our sponsors, both corporate and individual, for underwriting the expenses of this event. On March 1, the People’s Choice Award will be presented to the Star Pair with the most funds raised. The Judges’ Choice Award will be presented to the Star Pair the judges determine had the best performance.
Total: $242,136
Thank you to our sponsors
- Prima
- Relevé
- Plié
- Pirouette
- Arabesque
