Madi Gibson: for the Pride of Dance
Artists have always been a proponent, often a catalyst for social change. While their means vary from outspoken rhetoric to nonverbal performance, the goal and result is always greater representation. Madi Gibson is more comfortable with the titles of dancer, choreographer, even singer, than that of activist but she has repeatedly lent her extraordinary talent to magnifying the message of those who are in pursuit of equality. Prestigious awards including the George Brown College Modern Dance Award and Central Alberta Dance Festival Adjudicators Choice Award populate Ms. Gibson’s resume as well as performing works of some of the most iconic musicals of all time, but she has always made time to contribute her artistry to causes which she finds meaningful. In both her native Canada and the United States, Madi has been involved in Pride events which display the harmony between this community and the artistic community. Massively attended, the power of artists to bring attention to equal rights and the identity of said communities is powerful at these events in regards to nudging hearts and minds.
Pride Toronto is attended by millions. Events of this size attract national and international attention to the cause being championed. Lending her voice by way of her talent, Madi performed at this event with Drag Artist “Harley Is A Demon” onstage in Yonge-Dundas Square, the Canadian equivalent of NYC’s Times Square. Harley and Madi trained with and performed works by Cindy Macedo, former Soloist with The National Ballet of Canada, during their time together in George Brown College’s esteemed Dance Performance Program. Gibson later took her skill to Canada’s southern neighbors, appearing with the SarAika Movement Collective at the 2023 NYC Pride Parade. With an estimated two-million spectators and coverage on most major news networks and social media, public awareness was ubiquitous for this annual festive event. The SarAika Movement Collective choreography included a mix of jazz and contemporary dance. Each dancer put their own spin on the choreography, which was encouraged and also added to the fun, self-celebratory nature of the parade.
Madi is adamantly committed to using her talent to contribute to the positivity of this community, as well as the general public’s appreciation of it. She states, “The Pride projects I’ve done are some of the most exciting opportunities I’ve had as a dancer and that’s because I’m passionate about uplifting and supporting the LGBTQ+ community. I definitely do projects such as the Toronto Pride Performance and NYC Pride Parade because I genuinely want to and care about the cause.” She adds, “I think artists are more inclined than the average person to advocate for underrepresented communities and there are lots of layered reasons for this. It’s a responsibility I feel happy to take on. It’s important to acknowledge that LGBTQ+ communities are pioneers in the performing arts and I’ve observed that people from these communities are really drawn to the arts. Musical Theatre is a great example. The performing arts: dance, music, theatre, are all ways of expressing emotions and underrepresented communities deserve a way to express their emotions. I believe they pursue the arts as a way of being heard. They feel that they are able to be their most authentic selves. That’s just one reason why art is so meaningful for these communities.”
Struggle is something we all understand and have the ability to recognize in the lives of others, if we only choose to consider that they have their own version of it. Artists are often told that they need to be more practical and find a means of supporting themselves which is more “conservative” in application; a “regular job.” Perhaps this is what makes it so easy for Madi Gibson to empathize with a community who has been told to assimilate rather than embracing who they truthfully are. The celebratory joy Madi exhibits, along with her incredible skill, at such Pride events is a component that amplifies the voice of those who experience their own version of manifesting themselves; one she’s happy to support.
