Today I’m going to be interviewing Rashad Carter. He has been dancing for three years. Living in McMurray, Pennsylvania, he began dancing as a dance major in 7th grade at Lincoln Park. Over the years, he has participated in eight shows. Prior to attending Lincoln Park, he performed in Newsies, portraying the role of Les at Big Beaver Falls. During his time at Lincoln Park, Carter has been involved in seven shows. Among these, he appeared in The Nutcracker in both 2022 and 2023, taking on the roles of Fritz in 2022 and Nutcracker in 2023. He continues to break down barriers and fosters growth in himself and his artistic journey.

Can you share a pivotal moment where your identity as a black artist has influenced your artistic expression throughout your career?

“I’ve never really seen myself as an artist. As I’m growing as a person, I see that as I build my craft, creativity flows from me and it’s an inspiration for me. It ensures me that everything that it takes, every artistic bone in my body to grow throughout my career.”

Have you faced any obstacles or biases because of any aspect of your personal identity and expression, and how do you overcome it?

“Yes, I think there is nothing you can do to get rid of it. There is always gonna be that, not everyone in the world is gonna like you. I do think you can mend the obstacles or biases. It should not put you in a bad mood. I think it should be a learning experience, use this situation for your next step to achieving greatness. You should kill them with kindness.”

Do you ever feel like there is a lack of representation and refusal of acknowledgment as black artist here at Lincoln Park, and how have you gone about changing that?

“There is definitely a lack of representation at Lincoln Park. When I was starting here at Lincoln Park, it seemed that people didn’t know how to take me as a person. I’m still unsure. As the year went by, I took the step to make myself known and showed that I belonged wherever. I think that being a black artist is what makes my craft so unique because of the amount of time and effort it takes to achieve greatness. I’ve felt the lack of acknowledgement, I don’t think you have to fight to be acknowledged, it may seem like people don’t acknowledge you. They’ll see you though, because you stand out so much.”

Have you ever felt the same way?