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FT editor Roula Khalaf selects her favorite stories in this weekly newsletter.
I was born in Philadelphia, but my family moved to Atlanta when I was in high school. The move from the north to the south was a real culture shock, from the music people listened to to the way the children dressed. I hated it at first. And it was so hot! But very quickly I became a fan. Also, my last name, Bankhead, is a very popular neighborhood here, so it seemed like it was meant to be.
The dance bug bit me when I started watching music videos for songs by artists like Michael Jackson, Missy Elliott and Aaliyah, some of which were filmed in the city. Atlanta is known as “black Hollywood.” There is a huge market for the entertainment industry here, but unlike Los Angeles, where many dancers go to “make it,” there aren’t a million more fish in the sea.
I learned to dance at a couple of places: one is Dance 411 Studios, where I started as a choreographer. The other is the club. When we were 18 or 19, my friends and I created a dance team called Raw Tac-tics. We would go out and fight other crews, like we were coming out of a They attended to you movie. I met people like JaQuel Knight, who now works with Beyoncé, and Jasmine Badie, who currently works a lot with Sabrina Carpenter. We all grew up grinding.
I’ll never forget the Traxx Atlanta dance scene or the Monday night drag shows at Chaparral. I was amazed. People were simply living their lives and following their dreams. They’re both closed now, but if anyone ever wants to go to MJQ Concourse, an underground dance club in the Virginia-Highland district, I’m really bummed. They have a lot of Boiler Room sets (Jash Jay and DJ Hourglass have played there) and they have two rooms, hip-hop and house. You’ll probably find me somewhere sweating.
Don’t underestimate the food at the strip club. We are in the south, so everything is well seasoned and fried. As a true Atlanta boy, I love the wings: 10 pieces, soft, crispy, with hints of lemon and pepper. Magic City serves some of the best, but they have everything from lamb chops to lobster tail to fully loaded baked potatoes; They’re even on Uber Eats. I’ve also recently been going to APT 4B in Buckhead, which does authentic Caribbean food, and to Nobu when I’m feeling upbeat. But there are plenty of small, family-friendly spots, too: No 246 downtown and Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall, great for a fried chicken sandwich and a slice of key lime pie.
Shopping is definitely a sport. There are few options for kids here, but I’ve been going to Phipps Plaza and Wish Atlanta in Little Five Points since high school. They both have a great selection of sneakers. ANT/DOTE is more exclusive: think Balenciaga and Rick Owens. I recently had all my jewelry stolen, so I started over with a new ring from Parts of Four. I also bought a pair of blue tinted Port Tanger glasses. I know that every time I walk in, I will find something truly spectacular.
One of the things I like most about the city is the vegetation. We are surrounded by trees. I like to walk a lot (usually barefoot) in Piedmont Park, home to the city’s botanical gardens and a lot of great nature trails. But when I need to escape, I’ll head to my parents’ house a little further north in Kennesaw. They have a lake next to their house, so it’s a perfect place to resettle.
If I could describe Atlanta in three words, it would be electric, entrepreneurial, and moving. If you have talent and even an ounce of drive, you can succeed here. After high school I followed the dance group to Hollywood, but I came back and I’m very happy I did. I think I have shown that there is work in Atlanta for the dance community and for choreographers. In recent years we have lost many excellent studies due to the setbacks of Covid-19. I would love to one day help build a new facility: a home, a place to go for companionship, to laugh and to create.