Stage | The Guardian: Right from the start of my career, I've noticed a lack of ethnic people in ballet. In a corps de ballet, especially for women, the idea is to be identical: you're trying to move the same and not call attention to yourself. For someone who isn't white, that's difficult. You're left with a choice: you have to either become so great a dancer that you're not left in a chorus or a line, or embrace your beauty and hope others do, too – seeing it as beautiful, even if the symmetry is disturbed.
4 comments:
I believe this article touches on a very true issue in society. When you think about your typical ballet dancer you often thing of a tall white girl that looks identical to all the other dancers. Its very rare to see hispanics, blacks, or other races other than white dancing professional ballet. I believe this is because most directors and ballet backgrounds are very old fashion and haven't changed much over the years. Traditional ballet in my opinion is going to go out of style within my lifetime. Its really not that interesting to see Black Swan performed 20 times over with a cast that looks almost identical around the country. I know a girl who is an African American ballet dancer who has done incredibly well and is going to continue to do so even though she is black. She is a feature role in the move First Position, a documentary on young ballet dancers. As long as the dancer is highly talented, nothing else should be factored into the equation as to wether they are worthy enough.
It's true; traditional values and ideals still hold sway over the ballet world. Visualize a classic ballet: the Black Swan, the Nutcracker, Cinderella... Do you see anyone but white people in that ensemble of dancers? Probable not. But it doesn't have to stay this way. The dance community needs to grow, and with that growth can come change. People of different races have just as much right to dance as white people - more, in some cases, since their reason are often more pure for wanting to pursue such a path. Audiences should be able to accept this diversity just as well as they usually accept that long row of clones; in fact, they should welcome that refreshing breath of fresh air and new faces that will definitely lend a new beauty that will find its own balance and symmetry in the world of ballet dancing.
This is a very interesting take on the subject of race within the ballet world. I heard an argument once about how the issues more "ethnic/exotic" people face with success in ballet is that they are referred to be "less graceful" than white ballet dancers. But by reading this article, I had never thought of thinking of the issue being the distraction of having the line "broken" up or what have you. I guess that's just because I don't necessarily have the issue of thinking it to be out of place, however, I can see how society would think differently of that and I agree that there should be more widespread availability so that this issue can be solved by a collaborative communal change.
This guy is so inspirational.
There was one sentence that really struck me: "It's important to embrace yourself and say: I'm beautiful – and if that person doesn't see me as beautiful, then they're mistaken, because I'm amazing."
It just melts my heart when he says that he goes to neighborhoods that don't have ballet to find hidden talent. Sound like Billy Eliot.
I think Underwood really pinpoints some interesting things about ballet and how there needs to be change in audience attitudes. I really feel like watching ballet now.
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