The path to a professional dance career was anything but linear for Caroline T. Dartey. Born in Geneva, Switzerland, Dartey was originally an accomplished rhythmic gymnast, competing both nationally (she was the Swiss champion in her category from 2009–11) and internationally before leaving the sport behind for dance. A chance encounter with an observant teacher at Conservatoire Populaire de Musique, Danse et Théâtre of Geneva shifted Dartey’s attention to concert dance and New York City: She joined The Ailey School as a scholarship student in 2016, danced with Ailey II from 2018–20, and joined Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 2021.
Whether onstage, at rehearsal, or even in the improvisational videos she posts on Instagram, Dartey dances with aplomb, treating each movement with care and precision. Her elegant extensions and magnetism look right at home in Ailey’s repertory, and will be showcased in Paris this month when the company goes on tour.
A Transcendent Experience
“I used to get really nervous when I competed in rhythmic gymnastics. But when I dance, I’m always excited. It’s like another universe on the stage. The lights are so bright you can’t see the audience, so it’s really like you’re in your own world, fully immersed in the role you’re playing.”
Tour of Strength
“I love touring with Ailey, and memories from our international travels really stay in my mind. So many people across the world don’t have regular access to dance, so it’s amazing to give that to them. I’d especially love to go back to Switzerland one day—maybe I can inspire younger dancers there.”
This fall and winter, catch Dartey in select pop-up performances for the new exhibition “Edges of Ailey,” at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City. Photo by Jonah Rosenberg.
Expanding Her Resumé
“I do a lot of dance industry gigs outside of the company, from commercial work and modeling to performing with Pheelz on ‘Late Night with Seth Meyers,’ because if I stay within a bubble, I won’t progress. It helps me stay active in my mind and helps me bring inspiration back into the studio when I’m preparing for new roles—I carry everything in my backpack of experiences to use whenever I can.”
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