Alvin Ailey Dancer Chalvar Monteiro Shares How Growing His Hair Taught Him Patience and Integrity

Texture Diaries is a space for Black people across industries to reflect on their journeys to self-love, and how accepting their hair, in all its glory, played a pivotal role in this process. Each week, they share their favorite hair rituals, products, and the biggest lessons they’ve learned when it comes to affirming their beauty and owning their unique hair texture.

For Alvin Ailey dancer Chalvar Monterio, “movement was always a natural response. If there was music on, I was most likely already on my feet trying to bring the music to life.” Now, he’s bringing this talent to the stage at New York City Center, after two years away due to the pandemic. 

Monteiro credits his mother’s fondness for reggae, his father’s jazz, and the gospel he’d hear in church for his love of music and movement. “Pursuing dance as a career became my goal once I saw Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater perform live at New Jersey Performing Arts Center around the age of 12,” Monteiro says of his dance journey. He began in middle school, then turned professional in 2009. “I enjoy the extensive touring schedule of the Ailey company,” Monteiro says when asked what loves most about being part of the iconic company. “The opportunity to have your craft take you around the globe to drink in all of the beauty this world has to offer is very special.” 

Amid all his twirls around the globe, Monteiro has taken special care of his hair. Growing up in the Baptist Church, he considered growing his hair long after reading the story of Samson in the Bible. “His strength that came from not cutting his hair loosely represents the diligence and discipline that’s necessary to commit to all that hair care can be at times,” Monteiro says.  He decided to let his hair grow out when he went to college. “Luckily I had family and friends that helped me style it from time to time,” he says. But he also remembers having trouble landing certain jobs upon graduating, told that his look wasn’t “complementary” to the look of the existing company, or that it was “too distracting.”