A news story came out recently about 31-year-old American
and ballet dancer Eric Underwood, who had to resort to covering his ballet
shoes in make up for his performances because he could not find a nude pair of
shoes that matched his skin tone. This story brings ballet back into the spotlight, adding
another point to the already long list of race related issues that this art
form has been related to.
It is interesting to think that ballet, which is
loved and enjoyed by people from diverse cultural backgrounds, is continuing to
make it difficult for some of these people to be a part of it. What is
considered conservatism and tradition by some, is really markings of racist
attitudes that work to prevent ballet dancers like Eric Underwood and even Misty Copeland from growing and being successful dancers. This explains why there
have been ballet dancers of colour for many years, yet only now are some of
their needs being addressed.
I saw a similar issue raised a few years back by a model for
Nubian Skin, launched to provide nude underwear for women of colour. In a
behind the scenes video the model remarked on her experiences as a dancer
having to tea stain her underwear to make it match her skin tone (1.59). This again
makes the point that certain art forms and institutions are considered only for
a select group of people. There appears to be no room to accommodate and make
people feel included or valuable.
I think it’s great to see individuals speaking out about these small but important issues because they can be the difference for many young people in society in terms of influencing their attitudes and future actions. Change and inclusion need to be brought about so that racist attitudes, which inform not just ballet but larger inbuilt institutions, can ideally be changed and one day seize to exist.
This is something I have witnessed first had. I took ballet for many years when I was younger and many of the girls at my dance school where of different racial backgrounds. When it came to having either exams of especially dance shows they struggled to not only find ballet shoes and underwear that fit their skin tone, but also the right make-up that would suit them on stage, with all the lights and skin coloured tights.
ReplyDeleteBallet is also a dance form that is very class related, as well as racially selective. This class distinction has concentrations to the racial issues you've talked about. I have personally been to watch a number of professional ballet performances over the years, in a number of different styles and so far I can't remember one dancer who was not white. Which really concerns me. Ballet is such a beautiful art form, and is a wonderful thing to do, but the fact that people have limited options because of racial issues disappoints and unsets me.