Leroy Mokgatle in performance. She poses with her front leg in forced arch on pointe, arms in a V slightly below her head, head turned down to watch her partner sweep the floor around her feet. She wears a black leotard and pointe shoes pancaked to match her skin tone. Her partner is dressed in sheer black.

Leroy Mokgatle Lives Her Dream at Staatsballett Berlin

When Staatsballett Berlin artist Leroy Mokgatle debuted as the Fairy of Wisdom last December, she made waves around the world. With her soaring jumps, sensitive phrasing, and captivating charisma, the then first-year corps member announced herself as a star on the rise. Her Fairy of Wisdom performance went viral not only for her artistry but also for her identity as nonbinary. 

a male dancer on pointe posing in a wide second with one arm up

Meet Three Nonbinary Ballet Dancers Performing On Pointe

Training and performing on pointe are now more widely available to all genders, in both major companies and freelance projects. The result is an expansion­ of the creative possibilities in ballet—and, for nonbinary dancers Maxfield Haynes, Zsilas Michael Hughes, and Leroy Mokgatle, a sense of fulfillment that is as personal as it is artistic.

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.

Sign up for any or all of these newsletters

You have Successfully Subscribed!