Miyesha McGriff is the Reach Out And Dance (R.O.A.D.) Program Administrator for Kansas City Ballet, having joined the organization in May 2024 following seven years with Collage Dance Collective in Memphis, Tenn. A Kansas City native, Miyesha grew up immersed in the art of dance, spending as many as 20 hours a week at the Kansas City Ballet School over the course of 13 years, quite literally growing up within its studios. In 1999, she performed as Clara in Todd Bolender’s The Nutcracker, a cherished role that deepened her love for dance and inspired her journey in dance education and outreach.
What was it like to perform as Clara in The Nutcracker under Todd Bolender’s direction? Did he have any unique insights or approaches to the role that influenced your performance?
“There was a lot of direction coming through Ballet Master James Jordan at the time. But having Mr. Bolender in the room, you just knew, ‘Wow, what a privilege.’ Even at that young age, I wanted to be sponge and absorb everything. Clara’s role involves a lot of acting, so Mr. Bolender helped me focus on being authentic in my reactions. He guided me from a real place, not a superficial one.”
How did being cast as Clara impact you as a young dancer? Were there particular moments in the rehearsal or performance process that stand out in your memory?
“At the time, I don’t think I realized how big a deal being Clara was for a kid! It was my second year in The Nutcracker, so I thought, ‘This is just part of the experience.’ But my favorite memories are of the company rehearsals and getting to see the artistic process up close. The coaching was so individualized, so one-on-one. Working directly with the company dancers was unforgettable! Everything they shared with me, I held on to.”
Looking back, how did playing Clara shape your journey as a dancer, especially now that you’re a part of the Kansas City Ballet family as a full-time staff member? Are there lessons or experiences from that time that still resonate with you today?
“Looking back, I know that being Clara, especially a brown Clara, was rare. At the time, it wasn’t something you often saw. I came to understand that what I represented as a brown professional dancer went beyond just me. The dancers I admired had made such an impression on me, and I wanted to be that for someone else – a role model for little ones who might be looking at me the way I looked at them as professionals. I wanted every brown dancer to feel they belonged in spaces where they may not have always been represented.
Coming full circle and being back in this organization as a full-time staff member is incredibly meaningful. I now work closely with former teachers and fellow students who I deeply respected as a child. R.O.A.D. Residency Coordinator Sean Duus, whom I work so closely with today, played my father when I was Clara and was also one of my teachers as I grew older. KCB School Principal and Kansas City Youth Ballet Director Kim Cowen was our Sugar Plum Fairy, and she might have even been my mother on stage at one point. These were dancers I admired deeply, and now that admiration and respect have transformed into a professional camaraderie.”
Header image: Miyesha McGriff headshot by Brett Pruitt & East Market Studios.
