Throughout my ballet training, I never felt isolated or different. I trained in the School of Richmond Ballet where the focus of my teachers included straightening my knees and not sickling my feet, and never landed on my being from a mixed race background. As I rose through the ranks of the school, the emphasis […]

MoBBallet, an organization founded by Dance Magazine contributing editor Theresa Ruth Howard in 2015 to preserve and promote the legacy of black dancers in ballet, hosts its first symposium October 11–13 at Pennsylvania Ballet. Offering separate courses for intermediate to pre-professional students, dance educators and the greater Philadelphia dance community, the pilot aims to foster […]

Last night, Misty Copeland posted a call to action in a pair of Instagram posts, calling for her followers to share the names of African-American ballerinas. Misty Copeland on Instagram: “This article (link in bio) highlights the need for us to take ownership of our history, as well as the need for us to fight […]

When we’re talking about the history of black dancers in ballet, three names typically pop up: Raven Wilkinson at Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, Janet Collins at New York’s Metropolitan Opera and Arthur Mitchell at New York City Ballet. But in the 1930s through 50s, there was a largely overlooked hot spot for black ballet […]