{"id":10411,"date":"2022-01-21T02:24:39","date_gmt":"2022-01-21T07:24:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blackfashioncanada.ca\/database\/?post_type=cpt_portfolio&p=10411"},"modified":"2026-07-08T20:33:04","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T00:33:04","slug":"dale-king","status":"publish","type":"cpt_portfolio","link":"https:\/\/blackfashioncanada.ca\/database\/profiles\/dale-king\/","title":{"rendered":"Dale King"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t

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Highlights<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Barbados-born Dale King transformed her love of dance into trailblazing fashion-show choreography that put Black designers and models center stage in Montreal.<\/li>\r\n \t
Inspired by the Ebony Models agency, she co-founded Montreal Ebony Models with Gemma Raeburn-Baynes to showcase Black beauty rarely seen in 1980s media.\u200b<\/li>\r\n \t
Her signature zigzag routines turned catwalks into dance performances, thrilling sold-out nightclub crowds and giving models unforgettable ways to show clothes.<\/li>\r\n \t
Though the fashion productions became legendary, King considers teaching the strongest part of her career and continues to inspire new generations of dancers.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/span><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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\u201cFive, six, seven, eight,\u201d the models count in their heads as they walk onto the runway. \u201cOne, two, three, four, pose,\u201d while sharply turning their heads from side to side. \u201cFive, six, seven, eight,\u201d their steps form a mini circle, concluding with a diagonal walk off the runway to the front of the stage.<\/p>
This double eight-count forms the choreography for Dale King\u2019s signature \u2018zigzag,\u2019 a runway routine featured at many fashion shows hosted by King and her friend Gemma Raeburn-Baynes<\/a>.<\/p>
Taking inspiration from The Ebony Models, a major Black American modelling agency, King and Raeburn-Baynes started The Montreal Ebony Models. Their concept was to showcase fashion on a cast of all Black models in Canada\u2019s fashion capital but with a twist.<\/p>
Contrary to the traditional straight runway walk, King utilized her expertise and envisioned the models strutting the runway in dance.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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King was introduced to dance in the tenth grade through lessons and performances set up by her English teacher Habza Karamath. After a successful year of dancing, she was invited to perform with her teacher and a Caribbean dance group at a festival in Winnipeg, Ontario. This sparked the beginning of her dance career. \u201cWithout a question, this woman changed the projection of my life, and anything I do today in dance and teaching I owe to her,\u201d adds King.\u00a0<\/p>
After graduating high school, King began working an office job while continuing dance lessons in her free time. She also kept performing with the Caribbean dance group introduced by her teacher. However, after two years of prioritizing her job, King realized she wanted more. \u201cI had absolutely nothing to show for my life,\u201d she says. King quit her job without any intention of following a dance career, but dance persisted.<\/p>
An opportunity arose when a friend called her about a dance teaching position at the Negro Community Centre of Montreal. As soon as she walked into the community centre office, she was recognized for her time with the Caribbean dance group and was hired on the spot.<\/p>
During her time as a dance teacher, King met a \u201ctall white lady\u201d named Linda Woloz\u00a0at a dance store called Johnny Brown\u2019s. Her father, Wilfred King, had met Woloz and told her about his daughter six months prior. \u201cShe goes, \u2018listen, maybe in September, I’ll give you a call if I’m looking for a teacher\u2019,\u201d King recounts. \u201cTwo days later, she called me.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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\u00a0Contrary to the traditional straight runway walk, King utilized her expertise and envisioned the models strutting the runway in dance. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t just walk and show it. It was walk and dance with it.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Woloz asked King to teach a jazz class the following day. \u201cI was so scared; this was not the Black community centre, this is a real dance studio,\u201d says King. However, the students and fellow instructors at Jazz Dance Academy adored King and her classes. \u201cSo that\u2019s how I started choreographing,\u201d she concludes. \u201cAnd that\u2019s also when Gemma and I decided to do the fashion shows.\u201d<\/p>
Their first fashion show took place at Oz, a popular discotheque in Montreal at the time. \u201cIt was the most incredible thing. It was Wednesday night, downtown Montreal, 1970 or early [19]80s, with a lineup going completely around the block,\u201d says King. Both King and Raeburn-Baynes invested $50 each towards the tickets for the show and planned for all of King\u2019s fellow dance instructors to model, herself included.<\/p>
\u201cThe studio I was working at was an extremely popular dance studio, and every teacher had around 25-30 students,\u201d King mentions. \u201cI knew we were going to sell the tickets because all your students want to see you perform.\u201d Their first show was a hit, and after that, the pair decided to start their modelling agency.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Ebony Models was a major Black American modelling company in the 1980s, started by the owner of Ebony Magazine<\/em>. \u201cHer concept was to have a show to present beautiful designer clothes with beautiful Black women in it,\u201d says King.<\/p>
Inspired by that concept, King and Raeburn-Baynes knew they needed to introduce the same representation to their city. \u201cBack in the day, I will say this very bluntly, you didn\u2019t see the Black models like you see today,\u201d admits King.<\/p>
Black models didn\u2019t get the same spotlight as they do now, four decades later. \u201cWe were not seeing any Black models in the newspapers, magazines, or on television; this was in the [19]80s!\u201d Raeburn-Baynes exclaims. \u201cSo, we formed the Montreal Ebony Models.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Influence and Legacy<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The proceeds from their fashion shows raised money for several charities, totalling over $2 Million. \u201cWe did this all voluntarily. We didn\u2019t get paid. We just wanted to expose the beauty of the Black community in Quebec,\u201d says Raeburn-Baynes.<\/p>
Incorporating her dance history, King transformed the traditional runway walk into a choreographed performance, creating her signature zigzag choreography. \u201cI came up with a couple of what I call, \u2018the step turn\u2019,\u201d King explains. \u201cYou would have a series of three models walking towards each other. Then they would do this turn and slip through each other.\u201d Unfortunately, there are no recordings of the shows, but \u201cIt was beautiful.\u201d<\/p>
King composed five or six regular routines used throughout the shows. \u201cIf I had my regular models with me, it would be ok. It was just a matter of calling the routines,\u201d she explains. \u201cThe routines I gave them evolved into amazing things,\u201d as the models individualized them in their own signature way.<\/p>
King and Raeburn-Baynes made a strong effort to spotlight designers at their shows, especially promoting Black designers in Montreal. \u201cWe really, really did that. We gave that opportunity that they would not have had if it were not for the Montreal Ebony Models,\u201d Raeburn-Baynes says. The fashion shows provided lasting opportunities for several models and designers in the city.<\/p>
Iona Monahan, a famous fashion critic from The Gazette<\/em>, was impressed. \u201cShe loved the idea of The Montreal Ebony Models, and she promoted us quite a bit,\u201d says King. Monahan created a spread dedicated to the agency, resulting in their models receiving several bookings.<\/p>
As the shows continued, King handled the music and choreography, while Raeburn-Baynes found the designers. They made a good team. \u201cEven to this day, when we want to do a fashion show, and we get together Black models in the city, she\u2019s always with me,\u201d adds Raeburn-Baynes.<\/p>
The Montreal Ebony Models sparked success stories for various models, designers, and creatives. The shows were successful and a significant part of King\u2019s career in dance, from performing to teaching to creating. However, for King, \u201cThe strongest part of my career was in teaching and instructing.\u201d She continues to teach today and remains open to organizing another fashion show with Raeburn-Baynes for their city.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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We were not seeing any Black models in the local newspapers, magazines, or on television; this was in the 80s!…So we formed the Montreal Ebony Models<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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About the authors:<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Over the years Prof. Gooden has built a multi-media career as an editor, writer, presenter, public relations consultant and special event manager, spokesperson, host, and educator. She...<\/p>\n Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n <\/div>
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Charmaine Gooden<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/article><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Over the years Prof. Gooden has built a multi-media career as an editor, writer, presenter, public relations consultant and special event manager, spokesperson, host, and educator. She...<\/p>\n Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n <\/div>
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Over the years Prof. Gooden has built a multi-media career as an editor, writer, presenter, public relations consultant and special event manager, spokesperson, host, and educator. She...<\/p>\n Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n <\/div>
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Charmaine Gooden<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/article><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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0<\/span>Comments<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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