Black Ballerina Documentary

[Sugarmama]

BLACK BALLERINA tells the story of several black women from different generations who fell in love with ballet. Six decades ago, while pursing their dreams, Joan Myers Brown, Delores Browne and Raven Wilkinson confronted racism, exclusion and unequal opportunity. Today, young dancers of color continue to face formidable challenges breaking into the overwhelmingly white world of ballet. Moving back and forth in time, this lyrical, character driven film shows how far we still have to go and stimulates a fresh discussion about race, inclusion and opportunity across all sectors of American society.

 

Producer/Director Frances McElroy is a 2009 Pew Fellow in the Arts and 2010 Leeway Foundation Transformation Awardee. Project supporters include the National Endowment for the Arts, Women in Film and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. BLACK BALLERINA is produced by Shirley Road Productions and distributed by American Public Television."

 

 

http://blackballerinadocumentary.org

[julisha]

I saw it on Sunday and thoroughly enjoyed it. It left me hopeful for DD, but also a little sad.

[Sugarmama]

It is not showing in our area on PBS (OF COURSE it isn't) but we have a DVD on it's way, can't wait to see it! DD15 has incredibly become friends with Joan Myers Brown, so amazed at her dedication and proud of her lifetime effort on behalf of brown dancers.

[balletmuse]

Sugarmama, thank you so much for sharing this. It looks wonderful!