As Pride Month takes the spotlight in Calgary, we’re celebrating voices in our community who use dance to express identity, resilience, and joy. At PULSE Studios, we believe dance is a powerful way to connect with who we are and share that with others.
This interview features Beniya Lawrence, a talented dancer, a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community, and someone we’re lucky to have in the PULSE family. Beniya trains with LV8 and brings heart, depth, and authenticity to every performance. In this conversation, she shares her story of queerness, creativity, and what Pride means to her as a dancer in Calgary.
PULSE: Hi Beniya! We’re so glad to have this conversation. Can you tell us how your dance journey started?
Beniya: Thank you. I’m really excited to share. My love for dance started when I was a kid watching old movies. I was completely taken by the dancing in Singin' in the Rain, and that’s what pushed me to try Tap dancing at a small studio in Redbridge, Ontario.
When my family moved to British Columbia, I continued training at Spiral Dance Company until I finished high school. Back then, I was most drawn to Contemporary. Later on, I also found a love for Musical Theatre and Hip Hop, but for a long time, Contemporary was where I felt most at home.
PULSE: As a dancer and queer person, what does Pride Month mean to you?
Beniya: To me, Pride is about celebration. Even though it began from struggle and protest, it has become a beautiful time when people in the LGBTQIA+ community and our allies come together. That sense of support makes you feel whole and accepted.
There’s also so much queer history within dance. Seeing that history recognized and celebrated during Pride makes everything feel even more meaningful.
*LGBTQIA+ = Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, Aromantic, or Agender.
The plus sign includes identities such as non-binary, pansexual, two-spirit, and more.
PULSE: When did you first recognize that you were queer, and what was that experience like?
Beniya: I came out publicly around age 24 or 25, mostly because I wanted to be open about it.
Looking back, I always sensed that I didn’t quite align with what people expected of me. When I was 12, I asked my mom, “If I married a woman, would that be a problem?” She said no. I replied, “Good answer,” and we carried on.
During high school, I didn’t talk about it much. Being pansexual can be complicated, especially since I’m also attracted to men. People often assume that means you’re straight, so it was easy to blend in without raising questions.
PULSE: Thank you for explaining that. For readers who might not know, how would you describe pansexuality?
Beniya: I usually explain it like this: I fall in love with people based on who they are, not their gender or appearance. What matters to me is their personality, how we connect, and whether I think they’re a good person.
It’s a broader kind of attraction. It doesn’t come down to liking men or women. It’s about feeling something in the moment and not needing that moment to fit into any specific category.
PULSE: What’s the difference between pansexual and bisexual from your perspective?
Beniya: I can only speak from my understanding. Bisexuality means being attracted to two or more genders. Pansexuality is different because gender is not something I factor in at all. It just doesn’t play a role in how I feel drawn to someone.
PULSE: What role has dance played in helping you explore or affirm your identity?
Beniya: Dance has always been a kind of outlet. In the beginning, I used it to hide my feelings. I would dance through emotions I didn’t know how to talk about.
Over time, dance helped me step into different characters and parts of myself. That gave me the freedom to explore who I am and how I want to be seen. It was healing in ways I didn’t expect.
PULSE: Last year, we published a piece on Hip Hop’s evolving relationship with the LGBTQIA+ community. Have you faced challenges in Hip Hop as a queer dancer?
Beniya: I haven’t faced anything directly, but I’ve definitely seen things happen. Sometimes people make comments when someone shifts between different styles. For example, a male dancer might Vogue or Whack, and then switch to a more powerful or traditionally masculine style. I’ve overheard people saying things like, “He should just stick to Voguing,” which is really unfair.
PULSE: Have you ever experienced direct homophobia in dance spaces?
Beniya: Yes, once. When I was 15, a boy at school spread a rumour that I was a lesbian. A lot of the people I danced with also went to that school. After class one day, they confronted me. They asked if I was a lesbian, and said they weren’t comfortable changing in front of me. I had no idea the rumour was going around. I felt so ashamed. I denied it completely. At that age, I was still figuring everything out, and I didn’t want to be seen differently.
PULSE: That must have been incredibly difficult. Did you keep dancing with that group?
Beniya: I did, but I never forgot what happened. I stayed quiet and focused on the team, but I carried that moment with me. I only started healing once I officially came out to my friends and family, and they supported me without hesitation. I still regret not standing up for myself back then. I wish I had said something in that moment.
PULSE: Did anything change after that conversation?
Beniya: Yes, for about a year things felt off. Eventually, I started dating a guy, and suddenly everything felt normal again. But that experience always stayed with me. Even when we talked or trained together, it was in the back of my mind. At the time, I just kept telling myself that being part of the team mattered more.
PULSE: Thank you for sharing that. What do you wish more people in the dance world understood about the LGBTQIA+ community?
Beniya: I wish people understood that we’re all going through the same kinds of feelings. We’re all human. You don’t need to fit into a certain box to be accepted.
That also applies to dance. Just because someone Vogues doesn’t mean that’s the only style they can do. You can love Whacking and also enjoy Krump or Hip Hop. The industry often wants to label you as one thing, but that’s not how people work.
PULSE: What advice would you give to young queer dancers or anyone in Calgary who feels out of place in traditional dance spaces?
Beniya: If you’re a young queer dancer and you’re afraid there’s no studio where you’ll be accepted, I promise there are spaces that will welcome you completely. There are people out there who want you to show up as your full self.
Once you find that kind of space, let yourself grow. Even if your growth feels small at first, it can lead to something amazing. You are meant to shine. Never dim yourself to make others more comfortable.
Closing Reflections
Beniya’s story reminds us how much strength it takes to speak openly, especially when your identity hasn’t always been understood or accepted. Her honesty and bravery are inspiring, and we are proud to have her as part of the PULSE community.
As we celebrate Pride Month, we invite you to reflect, listen, and uplift the voices around you. Inclusion is not a moment. It is a mindset that shapes how we create, teach, and support one another.
Celebrate Pride with Us
In honour of Pride Month, let’s move beyond acceptance and step into active celebration. Create space for voices that need to be heard. Embrace differences not as exceptions, but as strengths. Choose empathy, speak up, and stand beside those who continue to fight for visibility and equality.
Every dancer deserves to belong in a space where they can thrive without fear. When we honour each other’s truths, we don’t just build a better dance community — we build a better world.
Let Pride be more than a month. Let it be a movement we carry with us all year.
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