In order to perserve an art form you must first respect it. The beauties and ways of an artform are tried and true. What it looks like to remain truthful to your craft has been proven time and time again. Specifically regarding classical ballet, actions are being done to strip the art of its sustained regailty and standard. I know there are many converstions swirling the idea of innovation within this long-standing form but truthfully, at best, what is happening is a deterioration of what it means to be a ballerina, dance a ballet and strive for top ranks within a ballet company. A lot of what social media notes as "breaking barriers" is actually the breaking of systems that is lowering the standards. Hair, race, skin color and facial features have been some of the headliners of the "fighting inequality in dance" chat. While I will never pretend to not see the reality of what many (including myself) have faced in dance companies with rigid opinions of the above topics, they are not an excuse to broadcast answers that demean the entire process of beginning, pursuing and engaging in a professinal dance career. Ballet overall has faced many scrutinies behind some who have chosen to abuse their power by isolating those with phynotpic differences. That is wrong. However, there are some things that should never have anything to do with having a ballet career. The shade of someone's skin, the texture of a person's hair or how a person lives their life. These have nothing to with having a ballet career because what does matter is your skillset, commitment to the art, growth, artistry, competence and teachability. When things that do not matter become the focal point, standards dwindle.
Other things that have been blurring the focus of the integrity of classical ballet are more things that have absolutely nothing to do with the artform. Its impossible to advocate for something that you have no respect for and respecting your craft entails learning it, meeting the standards, working to maximize your abilities within its rules and standards and studying. When people made a fuss about Allen Iverson it was over things that had nothing to do with the game. When Raven Wilkinson was denied access to the same hotel as her company, it had nothing to do with the art. When Ray Lewis decided to forgo an offer from his dream school it wasn't because he was challenging the standard of the sport, He simply did not want to start behind another guy because he believed he was better than that (competence). These examples are a picture of how to maintain the integrity of what you claim to love. These people became legends. You don't break barriers by challenging systems that erect a standard. You rise in all of your authenticity. Challenging things like costuming, or wearing your hair however you want because you're black, or men in pointe shoes and men dancing womens roles are all signs of not having respect for the work. It also damages the road for those coming behind you. If anything goes then anyone can do it. If standards don't matter and neither does excelling in them, every player would have a statue in front of Colonial Life Arena. Maintaing the integrity of dance, ballet specifically, today, should be about rising to the occassion. Working to break a reaonable mold just to have something to say is a cop out. Do you respect what you do?
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