TEXARKANA MAGAZINE
What was the teen hangout when you lived here? My teen hangout was Judith McCarty School of Dancing. I always claimed the exact same spot at the ballet barre for my entire childhood and teen years. That spot is still there! To this day, my teachers tell the story of Kayla Hamilton’s spot at the barre. I would also be at Texas High Theater, where I would choreograph the musicals after school. How do you describe Texarkana to your friends? Well, first I always need to explain how to pronounce the name of the city, “Tex for Texas, Ark for Arkansas, and Ana for Louisiana.” It is so confusing for folks who are not from here. And I usually mention that when you go to the local Walmart, you will run into someone from high school, or someone who knows your mom, or your dad, or your pastor! You will be in community. Who is someone from Texarkana who impacted your life? Dr. Charles Thornton, my childhood eye doctor. As my parents became more aware of my sight, he was the person who supported my family through many transitions. Even after college, I would always return to Dr. Thornton for my eye care, and he stayed involved as my sight shifted again in adulthood. He has known me deeply throughout my life, and he still checks in. What would you change about Texarkana? I want there to be more opportunities for multiple marginalized communities in Texarkana to engage with arts, culture, music, events, connections, and gatherings. I want kids, young adults, and elders to have financial access, travel access (public transportation), and physical access to these opportunities. What do you think makes Texarkana famous? For me, the Texas High versus Arkansas High football game, Scott Joplin, and The Perot Theatre. And of course my Mom, my Dad, and my Brother, the Hamilton Family! What is your nickname for Texarkana? TK Anything extra you would like to share? With my dance and Circle O work, I now travel all over the world (I just did a residency in Abuja, Nigeria) performing, teaching, sharing access strategies and learnings, and connecting. Everywhere I go, I bring my Texarkana roots with me. My spirit, my spunk, my audacity, and my creativity were born and developed here. It is always with me.
TXK ROOTS Kayla Hamilton
Kayla Hamilton is a Texas-born, Bronx, NY-based performance maker, dancer, educator, and consultant. Lauded for her work in the dance, disability arts, education, and access fields, Hamilton has received numerous national awards, recognitions, and fellowships and was recently named one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch” for 2025. She has performed and shared work at the Whitney Museum, Gibney, Performance Space New York, New York Live Arts, Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance, and The Shed in New York City. In 2024, she founded Circle O, a new cultural organization created by and for Black disabled and other multiply marginalized creatives. ACCESSIBLE IMAGE DESCRIPTIONS Movement 3—A black and white dance image of Kayla Hamilton, a Black woman, on a city street. She is throwing her head back as her dreads flow with her, and she pushes her arms outward. Her legs are wide and slightly bent. She is wearing jeans and a knee-length cardigan that wraps around her thighs. Movement 4—A black & white dance image of Kayla Hamilton, a Black woman, on a city street. She is jumping as her arms expand to the side. She is looking at her pair of glasses on the pavement as her dreads are high in the air. She is wearing jeans and a knee-length cardigan.
TXK Roots is Texarkana Magazine ’s forum to highlight and honor Texarkana natives who have accomplished big things in the world. These folks may have relocated, but they took the values, education, work ethic, and creativity instilled in them by growing up in this unique border city and used these qualities to blaze extraordinary trails. We asked them to share their thoughts about growing up here. No matter how far from Texarkana they may find themselves, we will always consider them our neighbors and we are proud to claim them as forever members of our extended Texarkana community. After all, “everyone is famous in their hometown!”
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TXK ROOTS
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