Ballet was established in the royal courts of Italy in the 15th century and later was standardized by the courts of Louis the XIV in France. Over the centuries it has evolved to be more structured and taken on new styles and forms. Although originally an exclusive dance form, more cultures and type people now have the opportunity to succeed in the ballet world than they did in the past two centuries. From the courts to the theater, from Europe to America, ballet has undergone various transitions visible in its styles and costumes. Ballet has evolved into diverse styles and gives audiences an opportunity to have a variety of experiences.
Even though ballet is still predominantly white, in recent years, incorporating diversity has emerged as a top priority for many companies and ballet patrons in America. When many people think of a ballerina, many people have general ideas of some typical characteristics. Even though it this is the stereotype for ballerinas today, it has not always been the case. In its origins, many ballerinas were stockier and more robust than dancers today. Despite his numerous positive contributions to ballet, many blame George Balanchine for many of the body images associated with ballerinas.
Balanchine was known for choreographing dances for specific dancers and for being obsessed with impossible structures. His ideal dancer has high arches, a flexible torso, small head, small bust, slim hips, small ankles and slender, long arms and legs. This long lists of traits is a high expectation to meet and one that many have adopted in the dance world. In fact, many ballet schools turn away students from elite schools for having the wrong body type. The reality is that many ethnicities are also associated with characteristic traits that do not match those of an ideal dancer.
In the United States, with a growing population of diversity, ballet has surprisingly stayed an exclusive dance form. Despite many companies push to be inclusive, there are still factors that contribute to this lack of diversity in addition to some dancers being discouraged due to his or her body type. One factor that contributes is the economic inequality in communities across the country. Because classes often expensive, many people do not have the opportunity to pursue a career in dancing due to lack of training. Another factor is that many people still think that racism is relevant in ballet.
This is because some people look at ballet in the historic sense and While many companies throughout the united states still exhibit a uniform like type of dancer, there has been a breakthrough in recent years. Thanks to choreographers, dancers, and companies ballet has seen a recent change in the United States. One ballerina that has broken all of these barriers is New York City Ballet primary ballerina Misty Copeland. Misty, a black muscular and petite women has become known for emerging as a powerhouse and exceptional ballerina.
Defying all odds, she first discovered ballet at the age of 13 when her and her 5 siblings were being raised by a single mother. She is the first African American Principal Dancer with American Ballet Theater (ABT) in their 75 year history. Not only has she attracted the attention of the ballet world, but also major sponsors such as Under Armour and many others. Recently, she released a book regarding her. The success Misty has had makes her a role model that young women who may not fit “Balanchine’s Ballerina” body type or skin tone can look up to and know anything is possible.
In addition to Copeland, ABT initiated a new program in 2013 to strive to include underrepresented groups in American ballet. This program developed under former ABT director Rachel Moore, called Project Plie, hopes to increase diversity in professional ballet companies across the country and help ballet reflect the diversity of America. Recently, the program teamed up with Boys and Girls Club of America. They have partnered up with seven companies across the country to implement their goal in other parts of the country as well. These companies are hoping to address the matter of access to communities.
Find and then support with scholarship promising dancers across the country. Not only does this program support the dancers, but also teachers and arts administrators of color. The best students discovered in this program are brought directly to ABT to receive lessons. Even before Project Plie, Moore was in charge of an outreach program, Project STEP, partnered with the Boston Symphony Orchestra that helped find gifted minority children and give them elite musical training from the ages of 5-18 and hopes they gain admittance to elite conservatories.
Other professional ballet companies that are not involved in the program have spoken out about the need to diversify such as the Houston Ballet. Many companies and people are recognizing the need for ballet to reflect the actual population of the United States. Another director that has embraced diversity in ballet is director Henry Hernandez of Tallahassee’s World Ballet. Born in Venezuela, Hernandez notes that he has always been around diversity seeing that he is from a South American country with a ancestry of people with a mixture of European, Indian, and African American.
As a principal dancer for 11 years with the Orlando Ballet, he has traveled and experienced through the ballet world in America. In his recent production of the “Nutcracker” or also called “A Celebration of Diversity” Hernandez casted many dancers of varying ethnicity such as Rachel Jones and Regine Metayer, both African American, as the Sugar Plum Fairy. In an interview when asked about his casting, he states he did not cast these dancers to make a statement but rather because they were deserving of it and are exceptional dancers. Many of Hernandez’s other ballets also feature a very diverse cast.
Even if the the majority of dance companies do not reflect the demographics in the United States as many think they should, many groups and people are paving the way to give people in every community the opportunity to excel in a once exclusive dance form. With the initiative to diversify this art form, it will help to make ballet relevant in the 21st century and continue to diversify. With an more diversified performers, ballet may attract new audience members as well. While it is always the possibility that minorities may not want to be a ballerina, it is important that every potential dancer has the chance to follow his or her dreams.
