Skin Colored Pointes: Interviews with Women of Color in Ballet

Predominantly white casting in ballet has led to a lack of representation of black swans. This book sheds light on female dancers of color, including thirteen primary accounts from African American, Latina, and Asian women in ballet. It covers dance training, casting, employment, discrimination, implicit bias, success, and achievement, and provides teaching tools to support inclusive learning spaces.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 277 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2024
Publisher: McFarland & Co Inc

Predominantly white casting in ballet has sparked widespread curiosity and concern regarding the absence of black swans in the field. This book delves into the experiences of female dancers of color, offering thirteen primary accounts from African American, Latina, and Asian women in ballet. It explores various aspects, including dance training, casting, employment, discrimination, implicit bias, success, and achievement. The dancers candidly share their experiences, highlighting the challenges they faced during training, the obstacles they encountered when seeking employment, the performance challenges associated with company work, and the individuals who played a significant role in widening spaces for them. Through these stories, the book showcases models of inclusive practices and allyship, providing valuable insights into fostering inclusive learning spaces. The concluding section of the book offers teaching tools to support inclusive learning environments, emphasizing the importance of diversity and representation in the ballet world.

Dimension: 254 x 178 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781476687056