Over 300 ballerinas got together in New York to break a record. That's nice, but what's disgusting is the complete lack of diversity. It was a sea of white with black people only conspicuous by their absence.
In such a diverse city how can such a thing be allowed to happen? I wouldn't be surprised to learn none of the women had a penis either.
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Yes I used to do ballet as a kid. British parents like to make you do it to improve your posture and grace.
Were you appalled as I with the lack of diversity in NY's ballerina gathering?
It's unfortunate, but, at the same time, there may be SOME legitimate reasons behind it. For one, money... Another, opportunity...
For instance, in the United States, many Black folks either live in inner cities or out in the middle of nowhere in rural red states. There are not many opportunities for dance classes that can teach ballet. Some may be in inner cities such as New York, but you have to travel a significant distance if you live in a rural area. These classes and the travel to get to and from them cost money - money that a Black family involving working multiple jobs not only doesn't have to spare but also doesn't have the time for the travel. The same can be said about poorer White or other ethnicity families as well.
In other words, the lack of diversity in ballet is really rooted in the monetary class divisions that exist and, unfortunately, monetary class groups and ethnic groups often have some alignment. This isn't necessarily overt racism but a natural example of "White privilege" in American society.
You are 100% correct... plus what you do not see is a ballet culture rooted in centuries of tradition within organic African or Asian Cultural dating back to the 1500 century. It pretty much a product of European Culture. And you are 100% correct, poor peasants in the 15th centaury were not dancers.
The ability to pay dancers, was product of an affluent society, and decadent society during the age Middle Ages. When wealth was being used to promote self-interests through art.
As a former ballet dancer myself I'm not surprised as a guy can only be a "Principle Dancer" because "Ballerina" is gender specific.
It's a predominantly white art form, so I'm not surprised there's no people of colour in the picture. To expect more people of colour would be akin to finding a caucasian geisha or isiZulu tribal dancer.
So no, not appalling at all. Remember that these days "diversity" includes sexual orientation, so I'm sure among those dancers you're going to find lesbians, pansexuals, asexuals, and some who identify as a water buffalo...
I would say this choice of ballerina might be self created by ethnic people who voluntarily choose to evade the job because they believe their chances of getting hired are lower than white people. People position their career choice according to the demand the world has for their skills. I know people who studied computer science that choose to work on airplanes as servers cause there is an immediate demand for an airline hostess but not an immediate demand for a newly minted programmer with no relevant work experience. Some come from rich families where they can do jobs with low demand or wait for jobs with low demand but others have bills to pay.
I see no real reason to be appalled. I mean we really can see white women in the foreground, but the number of people present suggests that there definitely have to be also people of Asian or Afrucan descent or even MEN. They are just not visible.
Would you be appalled if it was full of black young black girls? I wouldn't be. Get over your addiction to outrage. And actually, I saw this on the news, and they interviewed some Asian girls that were totally happy and excited to have been there.
I was not appalled by that either. Because the origin of the ballet was first seen in Renaissance Italy. The art form quick spread across Europe, and is a Tenet of Western European Performing Art. Should I be appalled that white people in Europe develop their own forms of art, like every other culture on this planet?
Should we abandon our cultural arts, because they are not black enough, brown enough or should we just not give a shit that you are appalled?
No I'm appalled at the fact that an Alzheimer's patient riddled with dementia can be president of the United States. A cackling hyena can be vice president and a 66-year-old man pretending to be a woman is the Secretary of health and human services. Millions of illegals for cross the border, and committing violent crimes killing people but they still say everything's fine it's not a problem. Despite 12,000 dog attacks every day in the United States they still push the lie that dogs are man's best friend and they love us. The lgbtq garbage being pushed on kids... Yeah stuff like that is what I'm appalled by.
I'm White, why would I be appalled by this? If POC aren't interested in ballet, that's not my problem. The high culture has historically been dominated and associated with Whites. Others are more than welcome to join, but it shouldn't be just for the sake of diversity. We deserve some nice things too, and I think it's only fair after we sent an all black basketball team to the last Olympics. As a White woman yourself, you should not be appalled by this either.
Highly depends on what criteria the event put in place in order to join. From my understanding ballet is predominantly a white art/sport. Even with NY's level of diversity it could very well be that no one of color volunteered or applied to participate.
HOWEVER if they did and were rejected, then that does raise some negative questions.
First of all, all of these ballerinas don't live in New York. Strangely, when I did live there and ran the 400 meters as a high school athlete, there wasn't much "diversity" either. Yet no one was complaining that it was almost entirely males of West African descent.
Poppy, you're welcome to come teach ballet to "diverse" youth in south Texas, Detroit and Prince George's County, Maryland.
Only thing disgusting is your view of it being disgusting, you are showing your racism by being disgusted by it.
If it was reversed and was all black, and someone made a post about how disgusting it was being all black I'm sure you would call them racist.. congratulations on being part of the problem
Being a ballerina takes dedication which can only be driven by the love of the dance and the ballerina environment such as the coaches, other ballerina’s and their parents pride and admiration.
In essence, such a gathering is voluntary. Those who have such a love for it will show up, those who don’t will not be there.
Now if it were a twerking contest… things might be a bit different wouldn’t you say.
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