Racial Diversity at The Washington School of Ballet

[Anonymous]

Can anyone comment on whether there is greater racial diversity at the TWSB in the upper levels of the school? We finally had parent observations and I was struck/dismayed by the lack of racial diversity in a class of 11-12 kids. We have experience at Maryland Youth Ballet and the class composition there seems more representative of the racial makeup of the DMV. I didn’t love that my DD was the only kid of color (AA) in a class that size and hadn’t realized that was the case until we observed since before then we’ve only been dropping her off and picking her up and hadn’t seen all the kids together.

[Anonymous]

It’s definitely less racially diverse than MYB or Citydance. Probably similar to Seber.

It’s a reflection of its NW location, which isn’t exactly representative of the wider DMV. I've never had the sense that there was any hostility, and, in fact, I think leadership is aware that this is an issue. Many demographic indicators at TWSB reflect the area it draws from, for example, the majority of kids are in private schools, with some homeschooled at the higher levels. It’s just not a very diverse place on many levels, but then neither is classical ballet at the elite level. It’s slowly changing..

I hope that your dancer feels comfortable there. There are students of color at all levels, and some have been there for many years and the kids all seem to be friendly, but I understand it’s not ideal.

[Anonymous]

You will see more diversity at the SE campus, you could always try lessons there instead.

[Anonymous]

You could perhaps check out City Dance - it's expanded a lot in recent years, their program is very solid, and since it's at Strathmore between Bethesda and Rockville, I assume it's more diverse in every way. My son nearly went there, but there was no dedicated boys' class at the time (maybe now there is).

If your daughter wants to become a professional, then she will face lots of obstacles based on her skin color. That's just how it is in the world of ballet, despite notable exceptions.

[Anonymous]

OP here — thank you for the responses. I understand the racial barriers in classical ballet generally for sure, but it was still a bit jarring to see.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here — thank you for the responses. I understand the racial barriers in classical ballet generally for sure, but it was still a bit jarring to see.

why is it jarring?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here — thank you for the responses. I understand the racial barriers in classical ballet generally for sure, but it was still a bit jarring to see.

why is it jarring?

Unless you’re a Black person or person of color I don’t think you will understand. I assume you’re neither since you asked the question. Even though something is known more generally, it can still look jarring once it’s right in your face. And honestly, a ballet school in DC in 2022 that doesn’t have decent URM representation in its classes tells me a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here — thank you for the responses. I understand the racial barriers in classical ballet generally for sure, but it was still a bit jarring to see.

why is it jarring?

Unless you’re a Black person or person of color I don’t think you will understand. I assume you’re neither since you asked the question. Even though something is known more generally, it can still look jarring once it’s right in your face. And honestly, a ballet school in DC in 2022 that doesn’t have decent URM representation in its classes tells me a lot.

Now let's talk about sports classes in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here — thank you for the responses. I understand the racial barriers in classical ballet generally for sure, but it was still a bit jarring to see.

why is it jarring?

Unless you’re a Black person or person of color I don’t think you will understand. I assume you’re neither since you asked the question. Even though something is known more generally, it can still look jarring once it’s right in your face. And honestly, a ballet school in DC in 2022 that doesn’t have decent URM representation in its classes tells me a lot.

I’m trying to understand, what does it tell you here? Demographics of the immediate area? Narrow racial diversity in classical ballet? Or something more or different about WSB, or this campus of WSB? Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Are there dancers of color in the upper-level classes? Are they getting cast in the “good” parts, and advanced at a similar rate to most of their peers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here — thank you for the responses. I understand the racial barriers in classical ballet generally for sure, but it was still a bit jarring to see.

why is it jarring?

Unless you’re a Black person or person of color I don’t think you will understand. I assume you’re neither since you asked the question. Even though something is known more generally, it can still look jarring once it’s right in your face. And honestly, a ballet school in DC in 2022 that doesn’t have decent URM representation in its classes tells me a lot.

I’m trying to understand, what does it tell you here? Demographics of the immediate area? Narrow racial diversity in classical ballet? Or something more or different about WSB, or this campus of WSB? Thank you.

I'm the one who recommended City Dance. Please don't play dumb. Ballet is known for being extremely racist, and not only that, selecting for a certain height and body shape that has nothing to do with technique level or artistic talent. Traditional school directors have corps de ballet visuals in mind, and want a homogeneous line, with dancers of the same height, skin tone, and slimness. They forget that they are first and foremost a TEACHING organization, and that they need to give opportunities to all young people.

So this puts off people who are not pale, slim and of a certain height. They tend to leave at some point, or maybe they visit and don't even enroll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here — thank you for the responses. I understand the racial barriers in classical ballet generally for sure, but it was still a bit jarring to see.

why is it jarring?

Unless you’re a Black person or person of color I don’t think you will understand. I assume you’re neither since you asked the question. Even though something is known more generally, it can still look jarring once it’s right in your face. And honestly, a ballet school in DC in 2022 that doesn’t have decent URM representation in its classes tells me a lot.

I’m trying to understand, what does it tell you here? Demographics of the immediate area? Narrow racial diversity in classical ballet? Or something more or different about WSB, or this campus of WSB? Thank you.

I'm the one who recommended City Dance. Please don't play dumb. Ballet is known for being extremely racist, and not only that, selecting for a certain height and body shape that has nothing to do with technique level or artistic talent. Traditional school directors have corps de ballet visuals in mind, and want a homogeneous line, with dancers of the same height, skin tone, and slimness. They forget that they are first and foremost a TEACHING organization, and that they need to give opportunities to all young people.

So this puts off people who are not pale, slim and of a certain height. They tend to leave at some point, or maybe they visit and don't even enroll.

Thanks for following up on my behalf (this is OP). My DD feels somewhat comfortable — meaning no one has been unfriendly, etc — but has asked if she could attend classes somewhere with other brown and black dancers. You can’t be what you can’t see.

[Anonymous]

I do think the school is making a real effort to improve the racial diversity of its student body, and the establishment of the SE campus has been important to improving representation. The above poster is correct that the NW location reflects the population that lives near the NW location rather than the attitude of the school. It feels like more black and brown school students have been cast in plum roles in the Nutcracker in the Julie Kent years than was the case in the Septime years. Also, because the Nutcracker draws students from NW and SE, during Nutcracker season your daughter will see many more students who look like her. And OP, I would urge you to take your daughter to see a Company performance. The Company and Studio Company both include a number of really talented dancers of color who have danced in principal roles in recent performances. Finally, talk to someone at the school about your concerns before moving on. The new Head of the School just joined from MYB. The school really does want to improve in this area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here — thank you for the responses. I understand the racial barriers in classical ballet generally for sure, but it was still a bit jarring to see.

why is it jarring?

Unless you’re a Black person or person of color I don’t think you will understand. I assume you’re neither since you asked the question. Even though something is known more generally, it can still look jarring once it’s right in your face. And honestly, a ballet school in DC in 2022 that doesn’t have decent URM representation in its classes tells me a lot.

I’m trying to understand, what does it tell you here? Demographics of the immediate area? Narrow racial diversity in classical ballet? Or something more or different about WSB, or this campus of WSB? Thank you.

I'm the one who recommended City Dance. Please don't play dumb. Ballet is known for being extremely racist, and not only that, selecting for a certain height and body shape that has nothing to do with technique level or artistic talent. Traditional school directors have corps de ballet visuals in mind, and want a homogeneous line, with dancers of the same height, skin tone, and slimness. They forget that they are first and foremost a TEACHING organization, and that they need to give opportunities to all young people.

So this puts off people who are not pale, slim and of a certain height. They tend to leave at some point, or maybe they visit and don't even enroll.

Yes, because only certain races are slim and Misty Copeland is not a principal dancer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here — thank you for the responses. I understand the racial barriers in classical ballet generally for sure, but it was still a bit jarring to see.

why is it jarring?

Unless you’re a Black person or person of color I don’t think you will understand. I assume you’re neither since you asked the question. Even though something is known more generally, it can still look jarring once it’s right in your face. And honestly, a ballet school in DC in 2022 that doesn’t have decent URM representation in its classes tells me a lot.

I’m trying to understand, what does it tell you here? Demographics of the immediate area? Narrow racial diversity in classical ballet? Or something more or different about WSB, or this campus of WSB? Thank you.

I'm the one who recommended City Dance. Please don't play dumb. Ballet is known for being extremely racist, and not only that, selecting for a certain height and body shape that has nothing to do with technique level or artistic talent. Traditional school directors have corps de ballet visuals in mind, and want a homogeneous line, with dancers of the same height, skin tone, and slimness. They forget that they are first and foremost a TEACHING organization, and that they need to give opportunities to all young people.

So this puts off people who are not pale, slim and of a certain height. They tend to leave at some point, or maybe they visit and don't even enroll.

Yes, because only certain races are slim and Misty Copeland is not a principal dancer.

Nor should she be. I have watched her dance and she is good but not principal ballerina good.