In ballet, what you look like matters as much as—sometimes more than—what you can do. Ideals and expectations run almost absurdly high, and ballet is known to attract perfectionists who thrive on rigor, dedication, and discipline as much as creativity, expression, and joy. We are made to feel that we are never enough, that we will always fall short in some aspect of ourselves that we cannot change.
Ballet in the 21st Century: Flesh Tone for All!
Ballet pink, classical pink, European pink. This is the range of tones I grew up with in my dancewear experience. It’s no wonder I knew no color other than pink for the greater part of my dance training; I took pink for granted as the unquestionable uniform of classical ballet. It wasn’t until my late teens that I saw--and a few years later danced for--Dance Theatre of Harlem that I was introduced to the concept of flesh tone ballet attire. This revelation changed me deeply, and though I remained tied to the ballet world I struggled physically and emotionally to engage with pink ever since.