EN POINTE: Black Dancers, Black History 

Misty Copland is STILL very lightskinned compared to the young black woman aspiree. There is also PRECIOUS ADAMS who is dark chocolate black woman from Michigan who is one of the principal dancers of the English Ballet Theatre. There is also very dark dancers from Africa who are very dark dancing for companies in Europe. Yes, there are some problems there, but MOST of the problems seem to be in the United States STILL.

“If it’s not there, create it” yes I love that! Thank you for this video. 👏💗

The pupils (black or white) in this school look different than in Europe. More average body, some muscular, some overweight. Here in Europe, professional dancers are very slim. This beauty ideal spoiled the dream of many girls.

I truly love this piece. It's so eye-opening. I am glad to see a dance program pushing back against the traditional "aesthetic." expectations.

They're all stunning dancers

I love the vid … and agree with just about everything. My only divergence is not peculiar to this vid or ballet; it’s with a phrase, one used more often than not, and one I feel diminishes us as a people. And that is, “I don’t want to be known as a Black this or that; rather, I want to be known as a this or that, that just happens to be Black.” It has the connotation that being a Black ‘this or that’ was/is an obstacle, an inconvenience or burden as it were, one that should be overlooked at all costs if possible. When it is actually something that should be embraced, treated and seen as normal as all others, and as “good” as all others; not a circumstance be side-stepped; but rather, a human trait that is as beautiful and as good as being “a dancer who just happens to be white;” a phraseology, btw, that I have NEVER heard anyone white use.

Very informative and important for the transformation of black dance in the modern and ballet world. Thank you for sharing!

I await the moment when there would be an exhibition of a black Degas collection of works. It is important to see ourselves through art. Self-respect is built and continued through our human capacity to represent our inspiration from the surrounding world that makes us imagine an even further elevated form of the human spirit we can express as our self, or in the faces and presence of various people we admire around us in life.

I was born in Cuba. I am black. I am gay. I am 86 years old. I am a ballet dancer. Yes. I was able to have a successful dance career in the this world.❤ If you are black. If you want to be a ballet dancer. You can do it. If you have a strong desire, go for it.

Thanks so very much for the great video about dancers. Centering the stage and pointing to the discriminatory treatment and practices imposed upon our black dancer. And more importantly to our female dancer.

Please don't forget the Dance Theater of Harlem! All Black (at least in to 70s when I was most familiar with them), and all ballet, and trained by NYC Ballet principal black male dancer Arthur Mitchell.

So sad these racist just wont let black people shine in any area without them trying to block it. For people to carry that much hate for another human being is just evil.

Thank you for this.

Wonderful video!

Irene cara and flash dance showed Pittsburgh dancers

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Why some of this ballet dancers are overwheight?

why i never see white people being interviewed in that subject ?