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Roula Khalaf, editor of the FT, picks 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 north to south came as a real culture shock, from the music people listened to, to the way children wore their clothes. I hated it at first. And it was very hot! But I quickly became a fan. Plus, my last name, Bankhead, is a really popular neighborhood here, so it seems like it was meant to be.
The dance bug bit me when I started watching music videos for songs by artists including 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 here for the entertainment industry, but unlike LA, where many dancers go to “get it”, there aren’t a million other fish in the sea.
I learned to dance in several places: one is Dance 411 Studios, where I started as a choreographer. The other is the club. When we were about 18 or 19, my friends and I started a dance team called Raw Tac-tics. We would go out and fight the other crews, as if we were out of one You were served film. I met people like JaQuel Knight, who is now working with Beyoncé, and Jasmine Badie, who is currently doing a lot with Sabrina Carpenter. We all grew up grinding.
I’ll never forget the ballroom stage at Traxx Atlanta, or the Monday night shows at Chaparral. I was surprised. People were out there living their lives and chasing their dreams. Both are now closed, but if anyone wants to go to MJQ Concourse, an underground dance club in the Virginia-Highland district, I’m very upset. They run a lot of Boiler Room sets – Jash Jay and DJ Hourglass have both played there – and have two rooms, hip-hop and house. You’ll probably find me sweating somewhere.
Don’t underestimate the strip club food. We’re in the south, so everything is well seasoned and deep fried. As a true Atlanta boy, I love the wings: 10 pieces, soft, crispy, with lemon-pepper spray. Magic City serves some of the best, but they have everything from lamb chops to lobster tails and fully baked potatoes; they are also on Uber Eats. Lately I’ve also been going to APT 4B in Buckhead, which cooks authentic Caribbean food, and Nobu when I’m feeling bougie. But there are also many holes in the wall, places for midwives and stages: No. 246 downtown and Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall, which is great for a fried chicken sandwich and a slice of key lime pie.
Shopping is definitely a sport. Few choices here for guys, but I’ve been going to Phipps Plaza and Wish Atlanta in Little Five Points since high school. They both have a great sneaker offering. ANT/DOTE is richer – think Balenciaga and Rick Owens. Recently all my jewelry was stolen so I started over with a new ring from Parts of Four. I also bought a pair of blue colored Port Tanger glasses. I know every time I go in, I’m going to find something that really flies.
One of the things I like most about the city is the greenery. 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 bunch of great nature trails. But when I need to get away, I’ll go to my parents’ place a little further north in Kennesaw. They have a lake near their house so it’s a perfect place to reset.
If I could describe Atlanta in three words, it would be electric, entrepreneurial, and soulful. If you have talent and even just an ounce of effort, you can succeed here. After high school I followed the dance floor in Hollywood, but I came back and I’m so glad I did. I think I’ve shown that there is work in Atlanta for the dance community and for choreographers. In the last two years we have lost many great studios due to the setbacks of Covid-19. I would like to one day help build a new facility: a home, a place to go to socialize, laugh and create.
