So it has hit the world of Social Media by storm, but I thought I would post about it as well. DJ Smart (SYTYCD, Koresh Dance Company) and Zola Williams with Choreography by Will B Bell and edited by Jose Omar Hernandez. With over half a million views, it brings to light the changing of color and ethnicity in ballet. I recently posted on facebook a statement that caused a lot of controversy via private messages and public posts.
“I’m not trying to say anything racial or political, but for some reason I just truly believe that ethnic ballet dancers have so much more to give with a stronger purpose. #thatsall”
The nature of ballet needs to diversify, and at a faster rate than artistic directors can grasp. As Misty Copeland has really put a face to ethnic dancing, and as Dance Magazine diversified their top 25 to watch this year; more dancers of this caliber should be celebrated not as commercial dancers but truly be identified as ballet dancers. They deserve it.
Here is why I made the comment that I did: As an ethnic dancer you have to dance 10 times better than a white ballet dancer. Not only do you have to prove you are just technically as good as them, but you have something else in addition to. The argument is that you will stick out in the corps, so you have to possess something that will get you promoted. You have to be tenacious, you have to go through this ridiculous mental struggle of race and your reflection. I know I did. I am not saying that ethnic ballet dancers are better, I am saying that the ethnic dancers that do make it in ballet because they have gone through such a journey with their racial profile; something you can not change. I have seen amazingly trained ethnic dancers not get jobs, or get so discouraged in the ballet world that they leave and move onto other things because of race. So, when videos like this come at such a diverse collaboration it warms my heart. And I hope one day, we look at dancers and just say they are dancers, and don’t have to identify their racial profile. Until then, they are finding new ways to present their art, soul and journey.
<p><a href=”https://vimeo.com/150746445″>"All I Ask" -Adele | Will B. Bell Choreography</a> from <a href=”https://vimeo.com/willbbell1″>Will B. Bell</a> on <a href=”https://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a>.</p>