As a lead-up to our upcoming production of Reaching for Starlight, Geordie will be presenting a special screening of BLACK BALLERINA, a film that “uses the ethereal world of ballet to engage audiences in a subject that reaches far outside the arts and compels viewers to think about larger issues of diversity, equality and inclusion.”

The screening will be hosted by Artistic Director Mike Payette.

BLACK BALLERINA tells the story of several black women from different generations who fell in love with ballet. Six decades ago, Joan Myers Brown, Dolores Browne and Raven Wilkinson faced racism in the pursuit of their careers in classical dance. Today, young dancers of colour continue to face formidable challenges breaking into the overwhelmingly white world of ballet. Moving back and forth in time, this lyrical, character driven film shows how far we still have to go and stimulates a fresh discussion about race, inclusion and opportunity across all sectors of American society.

BLACK BALLERINA is produced by Shirley Road Productions (www.shirleyroadproductions.org)

Running Time: 56 minutes 46 seconds

Price: Pay-What-You-Decide.

Location: Selwyn House’s Coristine Hall
95 Chemin de la Côte-Saint-Antoine

“It’s mainly a white world. The corps has to be lily white. It hasn’t changed.” – Joan Myers Brown, Founder and Artistic Director of Philadanco

“No more tokens. I want to see numbers.” – Delores Browne, Ballerina, New York Negro Ballet