Tiffany Haddish recently shared a story that reveals a softer, more reflective side of her personality. Behind her comic brilliance lies a lifelong love for dance. It is a passion with its own ups and downs, including a surprising twist when she was kicked out of ballet class at the age of 27.
“If anybody knows me, you know, I’m a damn dancing machine,” Haddish shared with 21ninety.
Tiffany Haddish’s Dance Journey
Haddish’s love for movement began long before her comedic career took off. Growing up, she dreamed of joining the world of rhythmic gymnastics, captivated by the elegance of flowing ribbons and intricate choreography. However, finances stood in the way of formal training, so she improvised.
“I wanted to be a rhythmic dancer in the Olympics,” she said “We couldn’t afford gymnastics classes, so I just copied videos I’d see on TV and at the library.”
Her grandmother was one of the few people who recognized her love for dance, even finding a way to enroll young Tiffany in ballet classes for a short time. But as with many early aspirations, financial constraints got in the way.
Haddish then revealed it wasn’t until she was 27 that she tried again. She had high hopes to fulfill her childhood dreams and perhaps bring a little grace into her world. She didn’t last long, however. Not because of the intensity of ballet, but due to a more surprising reason.
“I went to ballet class and I got kicked out for cussing because it hurts! Ballet hurts, okay? It’s not a pain-free activity,” she said with a laugh.
That experience might have sidelined her ballet dreams, but it didn’t stop her from finding other ways to express herself through dance. Today, Haddish still incorporates ballet-inspired movements into her exercise routine, often taking barre classes.
Taking Dance into Her Own Hands
Though she’s no longer in the ballet studio, Haddish embraces dance in a way that’s entirely her own. When she’s upset or stressed, she says she’ll dance alone at home to release tension.
“I’ll dance for an hour before I make those aggressive phone calls. If I don’t dance, it’s a problem,” she shared.
Dance is about more than just movement for Haddish. It’s a profound connection to her late grandmother, who was one of the first Black women in California to model on television back in the 1950s. Her grandmother’s courage and pioneering spirit left a mark on Haddish, who describes fashion and self-expression as a deeply personal legacy passed down to her. When Haddish feels grief or needs to feel closer to her grandmother, she finds solace in dance.
“When I’m missing her a lot, I set a picture of her up in the backyard,” Haddish shared. “I play the song I used to dance to for her, get my ribbons, and I just let go. It’s me, God, and my grandma. That’s all that matters.”
Though her ballet career may have been cut short, Tiffany Haddish’s unique approach to dance captures her endlessly expressive spirit.