Skin Colored Pointes: Interviews with Women of Color in Ballet - Paperback

by Nyama McCarthy-Brown (Author)

Predominantly white casting in ballet has led many to wonder, "Where are all the black swans?" This book sheds light on female dancers of color, including thirteen primary accounts from African American, Latina, and Asian women in ballet. Topics covered include dance training, casting (and color-casting), employment, discrimination, implicit bias, success, and achievement. Dancers discuss in detail the obstacles many dancers of color face during training; considerations facing some women of color when seeking employment; performance challenges related to company work; and the teachers, parents, and community members that paved a way and widened spaces for them. Through the stories and experiences of the women featured here, models of inclusive practices and allyship are shared. The book culminates with a section providing teaching tools to support inclusive learning spaces.

Author Biography

Nyama McCarthy-Brown is an associate professor of dance pedagogy through community engagement, at The Ohio State University. She has been writing and developing teaching strategies in dance education for well over a decade. Her research is focused on dance as a vehicle for social justice.