Advocate post

African-American Ballerinas

Posted on by jerrettervin

Aesha Ash

I recently voyaged on Wikipedia just to see what “history” (or lack there of) that they had on ballet, companies, and dancers within the industry. While out on my search I found a little piece of shocking knowledge and that was that there wasn’t a page for African-American or Black ballerinas in the industry. This was important to me because little girls should know that there is diversity within the ballet world and that no matter your skin color or ethnic background, there is a possibility that you could be a prima ballerina with a prominent ballet company. With this being said I took it in my own hands to do some research and attempt to create a ballet page for African-American Ballerinas (It’s a continuous work in progress but check it out!).

I must say I am no Wikipedia wiz, by no means at all, but I wanted to create the page to continuously make the issue relevant and let people know that African-American ballerinas exist and not just in Dance Theatre of Harlem or Complexions. Some of the challenge I faced was finding where to start and who to write about. There are a lot of African-American ballerinas that have made the industry more lucrative for up and coming black ballerinas that I didn’t want to leave anyone important out. I had to take into consideration that this is Wikipedia and there is plenty of room for outside spectators to add to the page and help it continue to grow. The coding was also a little tricky for me but I am more that sure the genius’ of Wikipedia would be more than happy to trail behind me and fix all that I have wronged.

Alicia Graf Mack

My Main point in creating this page is awareness that ballet is changing, and hopefully growth will continuously happen. It’s so much motivation for Minorites in general when they see a Paloma Herrera or Misty Copeland living their dream on stage and prominent ballet companies. Hopefully the ballet world continues to transform and focus not about color but more about talent. As an African-American dancer in this generation of dance, I am fortunate for those that broke the boundaries so that I could possibly succeed. Hopefully the Wikipedia page continues to grow with names and achievements so growing African-American dancers can be encouraged to possibly be a ballerina themselves.

Below I will leave you with a performance of the Legendary Lauren Anderson and the up and coming Ballerina MIchaela Deprince

Lauren Anderson and Carlos Acosta: Don Quixote

Michaela DePrince and Andile Ndlovu: Le Corsaire

Remember Dancers,

Keep Calm Dance On

Are Ballet Dancer’s Artists or Atheletes?

Posted on by jerrettervin

As dancers we all know the blood, sweat, and tears that it takes to make it in the professional ballet world. As a professional dancer, most train five to six days a week a minimum of 4 to 6 hours of rehearsals after class, so we definitely put our bodies through a lot to make sure look amazing on stage. With this being said this poses a popular question, are dancers artists or athletes? I think Dance Consortium said it best in their article talking about dancers as athletes. Dance Consortium first defines what an athlete is and then compares how the life of a dancer fits around that definition. Dance Consortium uses the ideas of stamina used through performances, the injuries that are endured as a dancer, and the physicality that it takes to make it through the week as a professional all as an example to why dancers are not just artists, but they are athletes as well.

©David Alvarez / Miami HEAT

“Dancers are the athletes of God.” – Albert Einstein

Being involved in dance and sports both in my past, the athleticism that you face are both parallel; the only difference is that you don’t have to look pretty playing basketball.Dance is such a commitment to your body because you have to train your technique consistently and constantly remind your body the do’s and don’t’s in class, so that on stage it looks effortless. Dancers consistently fight through a lot of the strain and injuries that are also faced by football players because when you continuously train and work your body rigorously overuse and long term injuries become a problem. The New York City Ballet describes the injuries that they face as professional dancers, and just like any other athlete one major injury can really put your career on the line. Dancers are now more than ever rehabilitating themselves as athletes by going to physical therapy regularly and strengthening themselves using outlets such as Pilates or yoga. Although dancers meet some of the same demands of an athletes I think I can hardly call it a sport because it is so much more that. The heart, soul, and passion that goes behind the performance to tell a story as dancer is what takes more than athleticism, but also artistry to convey. There is no way that a ballerina can portray both the roles of Odile and Odette of Swan Lake without the passion and emotion that comes behind both the characters. Ballet is definitely not as easy as it looks, but the athletic and artistic values that requires are what makes it such a beauty to watch. Below I will leave you with Soloist Jilian Vanstone of the Canada National Ballet talking about her life as a ballet dancer and what it means to her.

As always dancers,

Keep calm dance on!

Jilian Vanstone – A Day in the life of a Ballerina