Lesson 1:
Art and Quiet Time

Hammond Dance Studio classes
In this striking photograph from Washington D.C.'s U Street corridor, we witness a profound moment where creative silence transcends mere absence of sound, becoming instead a portal to artistic liberation. Bernice Hammond's dance studio represents a radical reimagining of Black creative space during an era of systemic segregation and restricted opportunity. The image captures young dancers in perfect alignment, their focused poses revealing the transformative power of disciplined artistic practice.

The photograph challenges dominant narratives about productivity and artistic development. While the broader society of 1941 clamored with the noise of war preparation and racial tension, Hammond created an intentional sanctuary where Black girls could access the contemplative power of ballet. Their concentrated expressions and careful positioning demonstrate how creative silence manifests not as passive quiet, but as active engagement with artistic possibility.

Through Hammond's lens, we see how structured movement practice becomes a form of resistance - each pointed toe and extended arm asserting these young dancers' right to access traditionally exclusionary art forms. The image reminds us that creative silence, when consciously cultivated, can nurture both individual expression and collective empowerment.