31 Mar 2026
Dancing to Her Own Rhythm: The Legacy of Valarie Pettiford from Queens, New York to Hollywood | S06 E12
Valarie's roots run deep in Oxford, North Carolina, where both her parents were born and raised. Her parents were young, hip visionaries who decided to leave everything they knew in the South and move north during the 1950s migration. Her maternal grandparents moved to Jersey first, setting the groundwork, and her parents followed, settling in Harlem before eventually moving to the Bronx where Valarie was born in the 1960s. After two years in the Bronx, the family moved to Queens, where Valarie and her sister grew up in a close-knit community that was 99% Black, full of families who looked out for each other. Her parents were party people who loved to throw barbecues and decorate the house for every holiday, especially Christmas. Valarie remembers walking to school with neighborhood kids, taking the bus by herself, and learning to be street savvy in a city that required you to take care of yourself.
In this episode, Valarie shares how her parents enrolled her and her sister in dance classes, even though times were tight they worked hard and Dance became everything. She trained in ballet, tap, and jazz, dreaming of performing on Broadway. At just 16 years old, Valarie got her first professional job on Broadway in The Wiz, and from there, the opportunities kept coming. She worked with legends like Bob Fosse and became part of a world where she was surrounded by greatness. Valarie talks about the importance of being teachable, staying humble, and never forgetting where you came from. She reflects on playing Chippy Charlotte on The Family Business, a role that allows her to channel the strength of the women in her family who are loving caretakers but also bad asses you don't want to cross.
Valarie's story shows why legacy matters and why staying grounded is everything. She's grateful for her ancestors, her parents' vision, and the community that raised her. Now she's focused on creating projects where she can hire people, give dancers and artists opportunities, and make work that brings joy to millions. She wants to be the helping hand, to remind others to never give up, never give in, and keep going. Tune in as we witness how one woman turned her parents' sacrifice, her own talent, and a lifetime of hard work into a career that spans Broadway, television, and film.
Connect with Valarie Pettiford
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ValariePettiford/ (https://www.instagram.com/ValariePettiford/)
Connect with Curtis:
Website: https://www.uncoveredlegacy.com (https://www.uncoveredlegacy.com)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncovered_legacy_podcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/uncovered_legacy_podcast/)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/curtis.burke.1088 (https://www.facebook.com/curtis.burke.1088)
More About Uncovered Legacy Podcast:
The Uncovered Legacy Podcast is where storytelling is not just left at the kitchen table. Many of us walk through life leaving a silent legacy, but we're here to change that by keeping those stories alive. Each tale will allow us to learn, discover, listen, and remember.
Join your host, Curtis Burke, for a trip around the world, through the smallest towns, biggest cities, oldest communities, and overlooked cultures. Because no matter where you're from, your part of history deserves to be heard.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/curtis-burke/message (https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/curtis-burke/message)
