ABOUT US

Ballet After Dark is the only program that provides trauma-informed, holistic dance therapy to survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence. With a goal of helping survivors reprocess, rebuild and reclaim relationships with their bodies, we’re building a global community of support for survivors and creating spaces for women (and those who identify as women) to safely explore freedom of assembly and association following sexual and intimate trauma. Trauma can affect us physically, change our behaviors, intensify our emotions, and transform our psyches.  Often, our reactions to trauma can include denial, anxiety, fear and helplessness. Healing following trauma is often a difficult, life-long journey that can have devastating lasting effects on survivors. This unique, free PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) service aims to bridge the gap between trauma experienced and safe spaces for survivors and other disenfranchised individuals to heal. This work requires trust building within groups of people who work together. The 9 month curriculum introduces participants to various elements of self-care while infusing beginner's ballet and athletic conditioning. Survivors can expect to develop ballet fundamentals such as technique and terminology while being encouraged to heal in an empowering, trauma-informed environment. Quarterly workshops include visits from guest speakers, facilitators and mental health professionals.  The program culminates in a showcase performance that highlights ballet technique learned throughout the program.

Our organization’s mission is to foster relationships between survivors, provide support and education, and create spaces where survivors can envision and experience the world we/they deserve. We honor art and expression as invaluable communication tools that make a better world–and value survivors’ stories in all their vast diversity as holding the answers. 

Tyde-Courtney Edwards

aka

Curvy Ballerina

Founding Director

Tyde-Courtney Edwards is the Founding Director of Ballet After Dark, a classically trained ballerina, art model and survivor of sexual assault. Born and raised in Baltimore City, she is a graduate of the Baltimore School for the Arts and has over 20 years of dance training and experience. Trained in various styles of dance including classical and contemporary ballet, pointe, modern, lyrical, jazz, tap and hip-hop, she conceptualized Ballet After Dark after struggling with recovery following her sexual assault. Tyde-Courtney has trained with Debbie Allen Dance Academy, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Peabody
Conservatory, Joffrey Ballet, Alvin Ailey and other institutions while receiving training from local dance pioneers such as Anton Wilson and Stephanie Powell. She currently resides in Baltimore City.