Meet Harper Watters

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

Hi Harper, 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?

I simply use it to my advantage. Throughout my training and career as a ballet dancer, there were so many times I found myself to be the only one in the room. The only boy, the only dancer of color. The natural reaction for me was to think that my differences were a negative, but my parents and the dancers of colors that I discovered along the way, gave me the confidence to switch that mindset. If I have your attention, I will use it as an opportunity to show you who I am. That perspective is what’s allowed me to be successful.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m currently in my 14th season at the Houston Ballet. I moved to Houston when I was 16 to train in the academy, with the hopes of joining the main professional company. After 2 years in the second company, I joined Houston Ballet in 2011, and over the past 14 years I’ve risen through 5 of the 6 ranks to become a First Soloist and the highest ranked black dancer in the company. With one rank above me, it’s my goal to reach the rank of Principal dancer. It’s something that I never thought was possible, in part because I lacked the visibility of seeing a dancer like me at the top. However, throughout my career I’ve been given such amazing opportunities to work with the worlds leading choreographers and dance principal roles, so the reality of making my dream of Principal dancer come true, has become more and more achievable. Last season I danced the role of Puck in “A Midsummer Nights Dream’. I remember dedicating myself so intensely to the role, that for the opening night performance it felt like time stopped and I was fully immersed in the role and story. Later that season the momentum I had created in my dancing and artistry came to a halt, when I broke my foot. Requiring surgery, I was out for 7 months. It’s been a difficult journey returning to the stage, but in September of this year, I had my first performance post injury. Everyday I work to regain the strength I had pre surgery, with the hope of experiencing that moment I had during the Midsummer performance. It’s those moments that make being a ballet dancer so unique and what keeps me going in working for my goal of saying I’m a Principal Dancer.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Patience, dedication, and Authenticity.

In my journey, it’s been so vital to understand that everyones journey and path to success is different. The second I embraced who I was as a person, and stopped trying to be what I thought I had to be, my dancing became better and opportunities started to come. I had to ignore other dancers fast rises, and stay focused on my own work. I had to stay dedicated to showing up everyday because that meant I was showing up for myself. My best advice came to me from the icon herself Debbie Allen. She said, “Do the work, because when you do the work, that’s when you get to be beautiful”.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

The most impactful thing my parents did for me was let me be me. They saw what excited me, what brought me joy, what gave me a sparkle in my eyes, and allowed me to explore it. My dad built me my own balance beam because I was obsessed with seeing Dominique Dawes in the olympics, and my mom let me raid her closet so I could make costumes for my one man version of The Nutcracker I made in the living room. My parents have always been there to uplift me and cheer me on, and that has always given me the confidence to take risks and fight for what I want to accomplish, and for that I am forever grateful. I would not be where I am today without them by my side.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: theharperwatters
• Other: tiktok: theharperwatters