Jacinda Richards on Creating Community Through Dance
September 19 | 5 minute read
Words by Georgie Abay
HERE AT MECCA, ADVANCING EQUALITY THROUGH THE EDUCATION AND EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IS A KEY FOCUS OF OUR SOCIAL CHANGE INITIATIVE, MECCA M-POWER.
Jacinda Richards learnt from a very young age that dance had the power to change lives. At school, dancing was the only thing that made her feel empowered. “Dance was something I excelled in,” she reflects.
“I struggled with maths and English. I was never very good at sitting still. I gravitated towards physical activities and dance allowed me to move and groove. I had a beautiful dance teacher who supported my journey and supported me to get my Year 12 certificate. It was rocky there for a while.”
It was the mentorship of this teacher that changed everything for Richards. “She saw the potential in me. She saw that I wasn't a naughty kid, I just needed different ways to learn. Her impact made me question how I could have that influence on other kids’ lives.”
Years later, she’s making an impact far greater than she ever imagined; Richards’ social enterprise L2R Dance started in 2009 in Melbourne’s west, with community-based hip-hop dance workshops for young people.
“I wanted to work with people who were having difficulties in the Western schooling system. Through the workshops, kids could use creativity to unpack life, to get out of their heads and into their bodies,” she explains. “The freedom of dance and art allowed them to be themselves – to explore the world in different ways which weren’t really possible in a classroom environment.”
Richards also realised that while she’d had the opportunity to dance, many kids didn’t. “Local dance schools weren’t accessible for many reasons, such as financial and social barriers,” she says. “I wanted to create a welcoming space for everyone. It didn't matter where you came from, because everyone was coming for the same purpose: to dance.”
In 2015, L2R became a registered charity. “I had no idea about running a charity. I had no idea about governance. I had no idea about what I was stepping into – it was huge. I learnt a lot very quickly… I’m still learning,” she says.
L2R’s offering is vast – the organisation provides free dance programs, Arts leadership opportunities and employment pathways for children and young people who are traditionally underrepresented or absent from mainstream Arts and culture.
Richards grew up in the town of St Andrews, just outside Melbourne. “Back in the ’80s, it was a pretty free-spirited community,” she recalls. “My parents always supported whatever journey I wanted to go on. It wasn't ever about the money; it was always about the joy.”
It’s the word ‘joy’ that comes up time and again when you speak to Richards: “If you don’t feel joy, what's the point?” says Richards. “If something's not giving you joy, don’t do it. You’ve got to ask yourself, ‘Is this going to make me happy? Is this going to make me feel good?’ And yes, you need to work hard, but there needs to be joy. On the flip side, having the courage to chase your dreams is really important. I try not to say ‘no’ to too much stuff, even if it's really scary. Be courageous, and make sure those courageous steps are going to invoke joy.”
‘Joy’ also happens to be the name of one the six shades in the new M-POWER X MECCA MAX eyeshadow palette. Each shade is named after character traits M-POWER wants to inspire in girls – alongside ‘Joy’, there’s ‘Confidence’, ‘Courage’, ‘Passion’, 'Strength’ and ‘Pride’ – and 100% of the proceeds from the palette go towards MECCA M-POWER, our social change initiative which supports over 20 organisations working to champion gender equity.
L2R works with its artists to foster confidence and courage. “Once young people start to gain skills, they build their own confidence, which is demonstrated in so many different ways. Creating new friendships, dancing in the park, dancing in front of their parents. Dance helps people find their own identity – it’s a vehicle for self-expression,” Richards explains.
L2R is also where people connect to create healthier and more connected communities. “Some of the kids who come through L2R might've had difficult backgrounds, but finding a supportive community is life-changing,” she says. “Dance brings us all joy, but the community aspect is powerful. You're never on your own. There are always people around you. When you rock up, everyone embraces one another, and we work through life’s hurdles and challenges together.”
To further nurture talented young people, L2R also runs the Igniting Legends program, which is an annual paid internship for three young people, led by the organisation’s Youth Arts Co-ordinator. “It’s a program that allows young emerging artists to unpack what kind of artists they are and what forms they enjoy. We go to museums, galleries, dance shows and theatre. It really allows them to explore art over the course of a year, specifically dance,” Richards explains.
Hip-hop is a lifelong love for Richards (and everyone at L2R). “Everyone can do hip-hop. It’s about embracing your own individuality and identity. Embracing your own physical limitations and abilities, and then using them to carve your own style,” she says. “Hip-hop dance is an inherently communal activity. Participants gather to perform, develop and socialise.”
At L2R, it’s all about bringing your unique self to the table. “It’s a part of hip-hop as well to bring your own flavour, bring your own identity. Don't look like me – don't look like the person that you're learning from. Be you and have the courage to do that because you don't want to look like someone else. You want to stand out.”
Today, Richards leads a team of seven. “I often wonder, ‘How did we get here?’” she reflects. “It has been a bumpy ride, but I wouldn't change any of it. I feel very lucky to have so many young people in my life, who I've worked with for years.”
Of the young people that she’s helped over the years, Richards is humble: “They've changed my life,” she says. “L2R wouldn't exist without them – they’re the voices of L2R. My leadership journey is [about] always opening doors for people to be at the table. It's not about me, it's about them.
“I've built the organisation from the ground up, but so many of them have been on that long-term journey with me, and they're now professional artists. They're in the M-POWER X MECCA MAX campaign. We're all working together for a brighter future.”
Find out more about L2R Dance at www.l2r.org.au.
Discover the M-POWER X MECCA MAX campaign, featuring L2R, and learn more about M-POWER by visiting m-power.mecca.com.
