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Ingrid Silva on building a legacy in ballet, one pointe shoe at a time
Manage episode 481361375 series 3524841
What does it take to thrive as a Black ballerina in an art form that prizes uniformity?
In this episode, renowned Brazilian ballerina Ingrid Silva reflects on the professional breakthroughs and battles behind her rise in the ballet world - from spending 11 years dyeing her pointe shoes by hand to match her skin tone, to persuading the industry to prioritize inclusivity. She shares her journey from Rio de Janeiro to Dance Theatre of Harlem and how becoming a mother has impacted her career.
The episode also dives into:
- Ingrid's childhood in Brazil and how a kind neighbour changed the course of her life
- The unspoken emotional and financial costs for dancers of colour in ballet
- How her personal experience drove her to create the 'Blacks in Ballet' movement
- What ballet still gets wrong about representation, motherhood, and belonging
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You might also like:
Cassa Pancho on designing the future of ballet
'The door is opening for us': Cira Robinson on ballet's turning pointe
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About Ingrid Silva
Ingird Silva is a celebrated Brazilian ballerina and changemaker with Dance Theatre of Harlem. Born in Rio de Janeiro, she began dancing at age 8 through a social project in the Mangueira favela and later earned a full scholarship to study in New York. She has performed leading roles in works by George Balanchine, Alvin Ailey, and others, and collaborated with renowned choreographers worldwide. A dedicated advocate for equity in the arts, she is the founder of podHER and co-founder of Blacks in Ballet. Her accomplishments have been recognized globally – from having her pointe shoes exhibited at the Smithsonian, to working on global brand campaigns.
Learn more about Ingrid Silva: https://www.ingridsilvaballet.com/
Follow Ingrid Silva on Instagram: @ingridsilva
Follow Dancers and Motherhood: @dancersandmotherhood
Follow Blacks in Ballet: @blacksinballet
Follow PodHer: https://www.podher.org/
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