Classical ballet in the United States has an image problem, as dancers at the top companies are almost entirely white. There are very few dancers from minority groups. African Americans are particularly under-represented in the industry. In an attempt to make ballet more diverse, the American Ballet Theatre has launched a new programme to search for talents from the excluded communities. Al Jazeera’s Daniel Lak reports from New York.
BALLET20.COM 
Another ballet barrier was broken at the VMAs last Sunday. Professionally trained ballet dancers performed on pointe to Iggy Azalea & Rota Ora’s Rap hit “Black Widow”. Haley Schwan of Staatsballet Berlin was the choreographer for the ballerinas, assistant choreographer Leo Javier Alvarez.
Really!? I did not know that! Thanks for sharing, Julie!
Incidentally, I spent Chritmas Eve with Haley and a couple of other ballerinas two years ago. Say hi from me if you know her. We don’t have contact anymore.