Peach3

https://www.instagram.com/p/CSH_Qe0IW1t/?utm_medium=copy_link Ballet Black pose a question/challenge. How can we make a change?

https://www.instagram.com/p/CSC2uyphziL/?utm_medium=copy_link

A good start would be allowing the young women to wear tights and shoes in their own skin tone.

Totally agree drdance.

I’ve got two at university and although they aren’t experiencing a normal start to the year neither is the rest of the country. If they came home they would be under exactly the same restrictions that they are currently under. Both of their unis explained how it was going to work before they went back. Both offered blended teaching ( online and in person when In small socially distanced groups). They can both book rooms/library space on their respective campuses, facilities they would not have if they were at home. There have been no surprises or big changes of rules since they went away. So if we could see what we were getting into why is a big shock to others? It’s not ideal but not unexpected. We decided in our house life goes on and we have to learn to live with the virus. This means taking all possible precautions and getting on with it. That is our choice and I would never judge the choices others make to keep themselves well physically and mentally. Sorry to go slightly off topic.

My hope is that more dancewear companies will think long and hard about recent events and it will change their thinking and all pointe shoes will be available in different skin tones in the not too distant future. We should all be checking our privilege and our unconscious bias and working out how we can make a difference as individuals. It is no longer ok for us to say we don’t think there is racism in the ballet world (because we haven’t experienced it) Our black dancers are telling us there is! Think on it. We can do better.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBEU9w3gZql/?igshid=114t8s8ue5w6w This excellent list from Ballet Black again. This time aimed at ballet companies.

Bloch and Capezio both have tights and undies for different skin tones and for Bloch anyway some flat shoes available in different tones. Capezio probably do I just haven’t checked. I think it’s less of a problem getting hold of the items and more likely people just aren’t sure they are available and where/how they can get them (speak to your usual dance shop. If they can’t help, you need a new usual dance shop!). I think if teachers made parents and pupils aware that there are choices out there and they would be welcomed as uniform it would make a lot of people very happy. As far as I’m aware the only companies that offer pointe shoes in different skin tones are Gaynor Minden and Freed. Probably others do but I just haven’t looked very hard.

I think you are right BellaF about the issue of demand for different skin tone shoes/tights and it being feasible for companies to have big stocks or just to keep them as special order. Hopefully this will slowly change and it will become normal to get the colour you want as quickly as you can get ballet pink. Perhaps ballet schools/teachers could let their pupils know (if they are not actively doing so already) that there are choices out there and that it would be perfectly acceptable for BAME pupils/participants to wear uniform they felt matched their skin tone if they so choose (I’m looking at you vocational schools!).

Absolutely Motomum. I think I wrote the common sense line to try and soften the blow that a list like this even needs to be written but it so badly needs to be read and absorbed. Especially the bit about the tights and shoes in matching skin tones. This is something British vocational schools should have changed a long time ago. It is time!

Ballet Black have posted on their Facebook and instagram a helpful list for teachers/principals of dance schools. Definitely worth a read although a lot of it is common sense. https://www.instagram.com/p/CA-1ZW7A81I/?igshid=1h2d7qdjnr7so

If it’s physically achievable (and with proper training) why should the thrill of huge virtuoso jumps or teetering on you tip toes be limited by gender?

Well technically you could but the wooden sprung pieces are heavy so although I can push them around I wouldn’t want to be moving them too much. The floor isn’t actually attached to your own floor it sits on top. I think you can put it on any floor carpet, tiles, concrete etc it would be fine. We converted a room in our house into a studio and had it in there. The pieces lock together in a very sturdy way. I also have 3 mirrors that are mounted on the walls at the moment that I’m happy to throw in along with two pieces or wall mounted barre. The mirrors measure 6f by 4 f and the barres are 3m and 2m long and all have their screws etc to attach to the wall. Sorry Peanut68 I know you weren’t asking for all that info but meant to put it into the original post. To answer you question simply then yes you could take it up and put it down as you please but it’s sturdy and the two bigger pieces are 2m long so you’d need a big cupboard to store it in. On the plus side it’s wonderful to dance on. Just the right amount of bounce for ballet and also excellent for tapping and not slipping x

Hi I’m selling our Harlequin home studio floor on eBay. Just posting here in case anyone is interested. http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-53481-19255-0/1?icep_ff3=2&pub=5575378759&campid=5338273189&customid=&icep_item=323571370357&ipn=psmain&icep_vectorid=229508&kwid=902099&mtid=824&kw=lg&toolid=11111

If your DD asks which exit is best for the National Theatre she should be directed out towards the BFI Imax. There is a subway under the IMAX roundabout and the exit for the National I think is sign posted. As she emerges from the subway with the National in front of her and the Southbank beyond the Rambert building will be just to her right. Can't miss it and should only take minutes. If all else fails just keep asking for the National. Rambert is directly across the road from the back of the theatre.

That is great Harwel, I just feel a few more wouldn't go amiss. As I said we seem to be going in the right direction and it is my hope and I'm sure everyone else's that we keep pushing on. Your point about your friend feeling shocked that her child wanted to do ballet is exactly why we need young children to see black dancers on stage. All of a sudden a new world is opened up to them and it could be that they just hadn't thought of it before.

Without wanting to cause offence I would just like to ask in what way do you find it interesting that Celine Gittens didn't experience any racism during her training or career so far? I think we should be careful about claiming we have read somewhere that so and so hasn't experienced any racism either. Racism isn't always blatant and when institutionalised can permeate every layer of decision making and the ripple effect from that. I'm not for one second saying this is what happens in the ballet world. I'm just saying it can be subtle and we should take care with the way we express what I can only presume is joy that three dancers of colour at the top of their game haven't knowingly experienced racism in relation to their career choice. We know this isn't always the case. It does seem like things are changing (slowly) but more needs to be done at grass roots level. If there aren't enough dancers coming up through the schools to replace these wonderful artists then we will be back to square one and the ballet world poorer for it.

Perhaps these are just guidelines developed over years of experience with obvious exceptions to the rules. Maybe it is the fairest answer that can be given to a question often asked by parents in a situation where time is limited. I would take it to mean they feel it is best to be in some sort of vocational training by 14 if you want to be a classical ballet dancer either in a vocational school or with a private teacher and for musical theatre it would be 16+.

At Elmhurst and Rbs they do roughly 4 hours of academics and 4 hours of dance a day. I have a child at state school and one at vocational school and I feel it is a bit of a myth ( just my personal opinion and experience no offence meant to be caused)that the academics suffer at ballet school. They have marginally less options to choose from is the only difference I can see. But the class sizes are much smaller at vocational school plus they have prep time as part of their timetable. They are expected to get excellent marks at GCSE and usually do. I'm not sure what the A level situation is as the ballet is stepped up to an even more intense level at 6th form. But I am presuming kids will have some idea of which path they want at this point and focus accordingly. I feel you wouldn't have to worry about your child being behind or not having excellent GCSE results at 16 should they choose an academic route at that point. Apart from Leave out or exeat weekends when everyone goes home children can choose to stay at school or go home at weekends. Usually from around lunchtime on a Saturday to Sunday evening.

BRB also offered a contract to a female Grad from Elmhurst earlier this year so exciting times ahead for a wonderful company.

Katymac that is disturbing. I heard people say black girls don't have the right body shape for ballet many years ago. I just presumed it was a prejudice that had died out over time. Very upsetting to think there are people who still think that way.

I'm afraid we will have to agree to disagree.

You are missing the point. The point is the government have set up a system that means they end up giving more money to families who need more. So that children that experts in their field have chosen to receive expert training can train alongside each other irrespective of family income. It has nothing to do with how the award works.

I don't agree taxi. Take the awarding of a place out of the equation. Let's imagine we have 24 children all suitable for training all with different family incomes. In order for these children to train the government finds itself in a situation where it must give more money to one child than another. In order for the system to work and to make sure lower income families are not losing out it must try to even the balance. Positive discrimination doesn't have to be only on racial terms but can and does work on economic terms.

I think in the right setting positive discrimination can work well. For example is the MDS award not positive discrimination? An award that supports families with less funds more than families that earn a higher wage? As for positive discrimination for ethnic minorities at audition, I agree wouldn't be a good idea. What would be great is finding a way to encourage more ethnic minorities to the audition stage where they would stand the same chance as every other child there.