At the helm of the Performing Arts program at the Bradley-Otis Club is Heidi Yancey. To most of the students at the Bradley-Otis Club, she is simply Ms. Heidi, known for being loving and tough and a whole lot of fun. But what the kids don’t know is Ms. Heidi is not your average dance instructor. 

Born in Delaware, Heidi started dancing at the age of five when her mother took her to the predominately white ballet studio in their small town to sign her up for dance lessons. Heidi remembers standing in a line with all of the white families and vividly remembers the registrar asking her mother “And what are you here for?” This would be just one of the many times Heidi would realize just how few people of color were found in ballet. 

As a young dancer, Heidi persevered at that studio and by the age of 13 no one could deny that Heidi was the best ballerina in the whole school. Word quickly spread of “Delaware’s first Black ballerina” and Heidi was offered admission to the prestigious Duke Ellington School of Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. at the age of 14.

It was here that Heidi encountered her first Black ballet instructor, a woman who would see the raw talent in Heidi and push her to new heights in both her talent and her passion for ballet. Because of her mother’s tenacity, her high school instructor’s discipline and grit, and her own determination and passion, Heidi would go on to perform with the Russian Ballet, in Broadway musicals and eventually choreograph multiple numbers for a wide variety of some of the biggest names in popular music. From being the little Black girl at the end of the barre to performing on some of the biggest stages of the world, Heidi truly saw all of her childhood dreams come true in her long and illustrious career. And she realized she had a passion for helping other children of color realize they could go just as far. 

After working for a Boys & Girls Club in Clermont, Heidi saw the posting announcing the new Bradley-Otis Club was hiring a Performing Arts Director. With her immense talent and passion for inspiring the next generation of children of color, there was no question Heidi was the perfect candidate for the job.

Heidi was there on day one of the Club’s opening to greet the students and she has loved every minute of her time there this year. For Heidi, she recognizes that representation is huge for children of color and she is dedicated to helping each student recognize their fullest potential. When kids of color see people that look like them being successful, it motivates them to realize they can have the same level of success. It gives them hope. 

‘I can’t’ is not acceptable in my classroom,” Heidi says. “I want the kids to learn that whatever they choose to step their foot into, they will be nothing but great and excellent at it. As long as I give them hope and a drive to do whatever they want to do, I am doing my job.” 

Learn more about Lift Orlando’s work in The Communities of West Lakes and all of the exciting events and milestones happening last year in West Lakes by reading the 2021 Annual Report!