Photo by Fernando Rodriguez
Born in Davao in the Philippines and raised in Des Plaines, Dee Alaba began dancing at the age of four. A graduate of Columbia College, she currently performs with the Seldoms, Loud Bodies, and Erin Kilmurray. She has also appeared in New Dances with Thodos Dance Chicago and DanceWorks Chicago, and with the Cambrians. Here, Alaba reflects on her experiences as a transfemme dancer in Chicago.
As told to Irene Hsiao
My mom was a dancer. She used to ask me to practice ballroom dance with her while she waited for her partner that was before I was even in school.