The Whitewashing of Ballet: More Than a Taffeta Tutu

Ballet: an elegant style of dance that emphasizes the beauty of lines and effortlessness. The most gifted ballet dancer will make you think you too can perform the same moves because the dancer you see glides and leaps without a drop of sweat (or so it appears). But have you noticed that ballet is predominantly filled with white dancers? There are undoubtedly famous dancers of color, such as Misty Copeland and Alvin Ailey, but so many dance companies and studios have classes that are lacking in diversity.

When was Ballet Created?

Ballet was created in Italy sometime during the 1500s. The word “ballet” actually stems from the Italian word “ballare,” which means “to dance.” Catherine de Medici introduced ballet to the French court when she married the French king, Henry II. Ballet evolved as Russia and France added their stylistic flares, and soon dancing ‘en pointe’ – when the dancer is on their toes – became a popular way to dance for women. Only female dancers go en pointe. These feminine characters lead to an overarching type of a “sylph-like fairy whose pristine goodness and purity inevitably triumph over evil or injustice.”

What was the Sylph Character?

The sylph character wore white, and many ballet characters are associated with the color white. Furthermore, there are pieces called ‘ballet blanc,’ which directly translates to white ballet. These performances feature the ballet corps (ensemble) in all white. Two famous examples of ballet blanc are Giselle and Swan Lake. Evidently, there has been a long history of a consistent white theme in ballet. While ballet has become more inclusive since its creation, it’s jarring to remember that Misty Copeland was the first-ever Black principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre, which happened in 2015.

Is Ballet Exclusive?

Ballet has long been a very exclusive art form. Having practiced ballet myself, I can attest that there was pressure to be a particular body type to do well. Furthermore, those with higher financial status had a significant advantage by having money to dedicate to expensive supplies that ballet requires: pointe shoes, elite leotards, and extra training. Therefore only a select few can even pursue the path of a professional dancer.

In What Ways Does Racism Exist in Ballet?

Racism and whitewashing in the ballet world sadly permeates all levels, including the competitive dance world for studio students. In 2015, Wilmara Manuel took her bi-racial 11-year-old daughter, Sasha, to the world finals of a ballet competition. While warming up on stage, another young dancer looked Sasha up and down. The dancer’s mother said:

“Don’t worry. They’re never really good anyway.”

Excerpt from Chloe Angyal’s book, Turning Pointe

Sasha hadn’t heard what was said, but her mother had. So much assumption exists in those words: the assumption that a bi-racial dancer can’t possibly be as good as a white dancer in this traditionally white art form and the assumption that just because a POC can exist in this space doesn’t mean they are competition worth mentioning. Sasha placed ahead of that dancer with her solo, but even if she had not, she deserved to be viewed as another equal competitor.

Racism in Ballet at the Professional Level

As I mentioned before, the racism in this art form permeates all levels. Chloé Lopes Gomes was the first Black ballerina to grace the stage at Berlin State Ballet in 2018. However, her experience with the company was anything but pleasant:

“In one production, Lopes Gomes said, the ballet mistress was handing out white veils for the dancers to wear and told her: ‘I can’t give you one. The veil is white and you’re black.’ “

bbc.com

She said the same dance teacher had forced her to wear white makeup to “blend in” with other dancers in a production of Swan Lake.

Chloé spoke out against the racism she faced in the ballet company, and the company launched an internal investigation. She won her case and received a settlement, which she deemed “a small victory but a huge step for the ballet world.”

Varying the Shades of Pointe Shoes

There are indeed small victories to celebrate, but mostly it makes the world question: why hasn’t this happened sooner? One such victory is the creation of pointe shoes in shades besides peachy pink. Freed–a leading pointe shoe brand–released two other shades of the shoes: bronze and brown.

Before the release of pointe shoes in various shades, dancers of color had to “pancake” their shoes: the process of using makeup to match the shoes to their skin tone. Another product that finally released inclusive shades? Tights! Ballet tights have been traditionally pink, but once again, the purpose was to match the dancer’s skin tone. So it’s about time that ballet tights come in multiple colors to make all the dancers feel comfortable and look their best.

There is still a lingering notion in many ballet companies about the color of the dancer that belongs onstage. As dancers speak out and bring these issues to light, they make significant progress on the matter. The whole ballet world needs to take a stand against the racism that still seeps into tutus and slippers; it cannot be a select few who use their voice to speak out, but rather all.