Meet danielle wright

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Danielle Wright. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Danielle below.

Hi Danielle, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?

OOOF. I didn’t want this to be the prompt to answer, but it’s definitely the one I’m supposed to answer! 🙂

This has been me my whole life. Growing up in the strict, god-fearing south as a ball of light that always needed to know WHY, I was always being looked at sideways. It really bothered me at first. Why would folx be so upset just by me existing?! Hundreds of thousands of dollars on therapy, deconstruction from religion, etc is just the start of the systems and structures that haven’t wanted me to exist in my most authentic form – light and love. So, I learned how to mask where I needed to, so when I was in spaces where I could show up as light – I kept shining.

I was ALWAYS performing. I was lucky enough to have access to dance lessons as a kiddo, and took to it like CRAZY! Becoming a professional clogger that toured by age 6 was insane – but I was on stage and sharing my light all around to the amazing folx who came to see us. All the while being constantly reprimanded for “stealing the spotlight” or “pulling focus”. For a 6 year old, this was VERY confusing. All while my knees started failing… well, for clogging… by age 8. So they pushed me into music theater – where my light was SO excited to shine. But, there was (and unfortunately, still) so much darkness in the folx who were running the theaters and training that they saw my light as a threat. Even tho, often, my colleagues would comment all the time how much they loved working with me, how I brought new perspectives, and listened to their ideas as artists. This isn’t what the structure was meant to look like – but a director led only, artists were to exist only to make THEIR vision come to life, never to bring their own discussions/thoughts/interpretations to the table. In each of these experiences – they would try to steal my light, syphon my light, claim my ideas/light as their own, etc.

When my knees stopped working enough for me to be “castable” in music theater, and bc those knees weren’t working as well I was gaining weight, I was shoved into opera… bc that’s where the fat musicians go!? Yes, my voice can do that. But was that where I was happy? No one cared. No one asked me how I felt/thought about it.They were just glad I could keep making art (in their opinion). And I should be “happy enough” because I was still going to a performing arts hight school where I could do more than opera… if there was a role I could be “seen” in. As always, I shone my light as brightly as I could – usually showing up in the form of caregiving, and I found my people – the queer scene. In the mid-90s, in the south, the queer scene mainly looked like boys/men coming out, I was in awe of their light, their authenticity. I knew I wouldn’t be the one who could do this at that time, but I was for SURE going to advocate for them and support them the best I could! By the time I graduated high school, I had helped/supported 13 men coming out of the closet. To this day, still such an honor to use my light in that way.

Most recently, I’ve been using my light – in all its trans/plus sized/ADA forms – to shine much needed light in our current, broken, systems and structures. Specifically in the world of opera. The first week of July 2024, I was in LA for the World Opera Forum & the Opera America Conference. I knew I needed to bring my light, and whew was I correct. It was one of the most disgusting things I’ve ever experienced. It was like watching congress. Old, white men talking about the same things over and over again. There were several panels that ONLY had men on them – where women staged STAND UPS asking where the women were on the panel – to be met by the head of Opera America, Marc Scorca saying “what do you want us to do, invite one of you up here? Fine. Piper, come on up.”. Within the next 3 minutes of said panel the words “We planned that on our boys trip” were uttered. In a FULL WEEK of panels, not ONE trans person was on any of them. Not ONE ADA person was on ANY of them. And they made us PAY to be there. There were at least 12 ADA folx, including myself, and Opera America scheduled, at least one a day, an excursion “less than a 10 minute walk” from the conference hotel, yet refused to transport any of the ADA folx, and told us we could order ourselves a Lyft/Uber to get there. So, needless to say, my light was fighting HARD to stay bright, but I KNEW it had to so I could try to connect with any of the folx who were open to it. I’m grateful for how I’m able to continuously show up, shine my light, be the only person in the room who looks like me. But, I’m also beyond exhausted at how hard I’m having to show up just so some folx (including myself) are seen as even humans. Let alone artists. That’s my dream, and I know I do that with my company, Opera MODO. I know the light of the MODO community shines bright and is a beacon of light and comfort for so many queer folx in the Detroit Metro Area. It’s an honor to shine so brightly in a community, like Detroit, where they allow you to be seen. Bc folx here KNOW who they are (if they’re from here), so they’re never threatened by other’s light, they want to see you shine as brightly as they do.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

As an artist, my passion stems from a deep-rooted desire to create safe spaces for others to heal and to explore my own journey of self-discovery. Through my work, I continuously strive to challenge established norms and bridge the gaps between art forms, always seeking to empower and uplift those who have traditionally been marginalized or overlooked.

The themes and ideas that motivate me are ever-evolving, and one particular series of work that encapsulates this exploration is my reimagining of Donizetti’s opera, “Don Pasquale”. In this groundbreaking adaptation, aptly titled “D[x]n Pasquale”, I delve into characters on a mission to overturn prejudice and promote acceptance.

My own experiences as a nonbinary artist within the opera world have propelled me to create a space where I feel safe and validated. The challenges I have faced, such as dealing with negative comments about my body size, voice, and expressing my myriad of interests outside of opera, have inspired me to defy the narrow confines of the genre. By literally rewriting the script and embracing hyper-inclusive casting, I aim to foster an environment where all artists, regardless of gender identity or background, can thrive and express themselves authentically.

Navigating power dynamics and safety within the arts has also prompted me to adopt consent-based practices and receive training as an intimacy director. By prioritizing the well-being of performers and creating a supportive environment, I aim to enhance the creative process and foster a sense of empowerment.

Furthermore, I recognize the importance of art in the lives of performers who have made the choice to stay in this field despite familial, career, or personal commitments. My work not only nourishes their artistic spirits but also acknowledges and appreciates the rich diversity of their experiences. By incorporating built-in education components into every production and rehearsal process, I aim to provide a platform for growth, evolution, and personal development.

In summary, my artistic journey is defined by inclusivity, empathy, and the ceaseless pursuit of growth. Through opera and beyond, I strive to create spaces where individuals can see themselves reflected in the art and where art serves as a powerful catalyst for change. By embracing the challenges, dismantling traditional norms, and nurturing a supportive community, I strive to leave a lasting impact on the world through my artistic endeavors.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Learning Autonomy.
Learning Boundaries.
Learning to love and respect myself and my self worth!

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?

Me. NO ONE knows you better than YOU. We are taught as soon as we’re born to define ourselves by how others react to us – instead of US reacting to them. TRUST yourself. Don’t let other voices be louder than YOURS.

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