To be Black, Male and a Ballet dancer- Amar Smalls

About this episode

Leslie Short interviews ballet dancer Amar Smalls about his experiences with stereotypes and discrimination in ballet companies and discusses opportunities for Black dancers.

Leslie Short, host of Visibility Ultd. and Founder of The Cavu Group interviews ballet dancer Amar Smalls as he shares about his experiences with stereotypes and discrimination in ballet companies. They discussed how traditional ballet companies remain resistant to change, with limited opportunities for Black dancers beyond Alvin Ailey and Dance Theater Harlem, and how dancers often face pressure to maintain traditional styles while being penalized for speaking truthfully about their experiences. The conversation also covered how dance companies could better market their dancers as personalities rather than just performers, similar to how other entertainment industries promote their talent, and Amar's own business venture called Smalls Dance, which he created with his sister to provide opportunities for young dancers in Brooklyn. Ballet is a business!

People in this episode

Host: Leslie Short

Guest: Amar Smalls

Topics covered

• ballet
• discrimination
• opportunities for Black dancers
• marketing in dance
• personal experiences
• business in dance

Keywords

• ballet dancer
• stereotypes
• discrimination
• Black dancers
• dance companies
• marketing
• Smalls Dance

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Alvin Ailey, Dance Theater Harlem, Smalls Dance

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