Atlanta Hawks dancer is a proud gay man who won’t stop dancing for anybody
Calvin Brown tells GLAAD and Outsports that he is living a dream, dancing for the Atlanta Hawks as a gay man in the NBA.
Mark
Calvin Brown is nothing if not resilient.
Now in his fifth season on the Atlanta Hawks dance team, Brown has spent nearly a decade of his professional career dancing in the NBA. It’s an accomplishment that may seem minuscule to onlookers with little appreciation for dance or for the men.
There is an expectation from authority figures of Black boys to participate in sports early and to adhere to a standard of masculinity that, for many, can often feel performative.
For Brown, who grew up in Miami, his interest in sports preceded his interest in dance.
“I primarily did track and field, and basketball here and there,” Brown told GLAAD in a conversation for Outsports. “But I didn’t transition into dance until, I want to say, about sixth or seventh grade.
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“I did not like being outside sweating anymore.
“And I figured dance was the easier option because I was already doing it so much, and I fell in love with it.”
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Inspired by a relative who taught dance at a local Miami studio, and who also served as director of the Miami Heat Junior Jam Dancers, Brown put his talent to the test when he auditioned for a spot on the Junior Jam dance team.
The confidence he took into the audition room was instantly replaced by the reality of his fear of being cut, potentially upending his NBA dance career before it even began.
He didn’t stop.
“Looking back at it now, I was not that good of a dancer when I auditioned. I was horrible,” Brown said. “But I think with that being my first rejection, it fueled me to take more dance classes, to learn different styles, [and to rely less] on doing whatever I thought looked good.”
The Miami Marlins dance team was the first to give Brown a chance to realize his professional dance dreams. He was in heaven.
Then the Washington Wizards opened their doors to him, and now the Atlanta Hawks.
Brown says the freedom and liberation he found after relocating to Atlanta have far surpassed any experience he had in D.C.
“I’ve been able to connect not only socially but professionally with co-workers on similar challenges that connect us all. It’s been a little bit easier in this environment than in others. And the same thing with D.C., but I feel like [in Atlanta] it’s just more free.”
But if auditioning to claim his spot on the Atlanta Hawks dance team was not challenging enough, there was one other obstacle that Brown couldn’t ignore, especially since he had no control over the potential outcome.
True to Atlanta and his Hawks
The Hawks dance team was predominantly women, and Brown was concerned that his gender alone would disqualify him before his talent and athleticism could open the door to the next chapter of his NBA career.
“Certain teams only want to see women cheerleaders and dancers. I’m just here to show you guys there are male dancers that are interested in joining the team,” Brown said. “And even if I don’t make it, there’s always next year, but at least I made a presence at the auditions and completed the entire process.”
After several rounds of cuts at the in-person audition and only one number left to call to fill the remaining spot on the team, Brown was prepared to grab his dance bag and exit. And then it happened.
“Lo and behold, my number was called last,” Brown said. I ran on stage! I was super happy and also super grateful because not only had I made the team, but I was stepping onto a team that was predominantly women. This was something new, and I was being invited in.”
Katrina Jo Balbuena, entertainment director for the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena, tells Outsports that diversity on and off the court is a core tenet of the Hawks’ organization.
“The Hawks have always been an organization that supports diversity. We look at talent across the board. We want to have the best of the best,” Balbuena said. “We want to have professionals join our team, and that is regardless of orientation or gender.”
Balbuena says the organization aims to represent all communities while adhering to the Hawks’ slogan of being true to Atlanta.
“We champion diversity, equity, and inclusion, not only in our entertainment, but also in our fan base as well. And we want to make sure that that’s represented and shown through all of our entertainment aspects on game day,” she said.
A gay man dancing for the Atlanta Hawks
But since joining the team in 2021, Brown says it’s been a process for some male NBA fans to embrace the addition of male dancers.
“When we first started out in 2021, they were not receptive to it at all. The women were, but the male fans were not,” Brown said.
In the beginning, he remembers photo sessions with his teammates and fans after games and being asked to step outside the frame.
“They were quick to say, ‘Hey, I kind of prefer the women. Or, ‘Hey, would you mind taking a photo of us?’
“I would stand there, and I would see it, but I wouldn’t say anything.”
Brown tells Outsports that he was convinced his talent, charm, and determination would eventually turn the tide with male fans.
“At some point, you guys are going to have to love me one way or another,” Brown said knowingly. “And over time, I earned the respect and love of the fans.”
All of which reaffirmed Brown’s decision to persevere when times were hard. But it was the impact he learned he was having on a young male fan that truly made his presence on the team worth it.
“I had a little boy’s dad come up to me, and he said, ‘Hey, my son loves you, and he wants to dance because of you. Can you sign his jersey?’ Stuff like that is one of the reasons why I’m happy I stuck it out. I’m happy that I am making a difference,” Brown said.
“The dance team is always a source of inspiration to our fans, and that is through all ages,” Balbuena added. “So, we just want to make sure that we’re continuing to inspire our fans and make sure that they understand and can see that there is a pathway to being a part of our entertainment.”
“I feel heard. I feel seen. I feel included,” Brown said of his experience with the Atlanta Hawks. “Not just because of my orientation and not because of my skill for dancing, but the organization is so inclusive, and they care about the people that they work with.”They care about the outside world. They care about everyone. This is actually one of the organizations where I can say I am fully proud to be a part of.”
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