The ballet dancer who fought to wear brown tights | Michaela DePrince | Rebels | BBC Sport

[@charlesTBear]

She will be missed by so many. Thank you for sharing your gift with us.

[@robinafrica3456]

I trained for 16yrs but it’s been 30yrs since I’ve danced!!🩰 I remember dying my pointe shoes dark brown to match my skin tone. I was told when I was dancing that I didn’t have the typical Black girl body and I excelled in ballet. I had my 15min of fame back in the day, I received an offer to dance with The L.A. Ballet 🩰 That feeling of you have arrived is amazing, all of the years of hard work paid off. The end of my story is …. That year I received the offer to dance with The L.A. Ballet, they went bankrupt and I got injured! My daughter followed in my footsteps and went to The Joffrey Ballet…. I went back to ballet a few weeks ago and I love it!!

[@tammygant4216]

Amazing! I'm a dark brown dancer. . .but I didn't discover ballet until I was 47 :D I'm a triple minority in the studio (old, fluffy, and dark), but like Michaela said, "dancing is the other side of my heart" I've been dancing 4 years this summer and I won't stop until they put me in the grave :D

[@11kwright]

They need to make a film of Michaela DuPrince’s life. It’s an amasing story from underdog to the highest of sucess. 😊❤

[@Ava2969ny]

A film is in the works...Madonna is onboard to direct it.

[@johnwakefield8570]

It wouldn't be the same .. Michaelis did it .. did it all .. she played herself better than anyone else can ..

[@Emma-Maze]

The brown tights and shoes just make sense? She was a gorgeous and incredible artist.

[@insaelliott1318]

hurts too much to watch videos like this. Her presence, her life was so important to so many people, but especially to little black girls

[@texasdazzlers]

She left her mark and changed the ballet world forever. It’s up to us dance teachers to teach our girls about her so her legacy will live on. ❤

[@sugarcookiecube]

Hard to believe she is gone. She will be missed…💔

[@tw9576]

She shines like a jewel onstage

[@MsMozette]

Keep dancing. You're amazing and such a fantastic role model.

[@rosanerio2]

Oh! She is soo wonderful!! I can`t imagine the struggles that she`s been through as a LOVER OF BALLET, as a Balerina, as a person!! I felt sick hearing that people would say horrible words to her just because of the colour of the skin...sad...BUT, waht a soul!! Proved everyone wrong!! You are an INSPIRATION, Michaela!! God bless you!!

[@lenorawestwoodson5710]

She was delightful, speaking with a mother's heart.

[@vf9322]

She is amazing! Every time I listen to her I get emotional. God bless her and her family!

[@stephaniemoura8354]

She certainly is not a typical ballerina, and what the hell is wrong with this? She's amazing. I've heard about her in Good Night Stories For Rebel Girls, and asap I looked for her dancing. Seriously, wth is wrong with the world to judge her dancing just because of her color? By the way, brown tights are really beautiful.

[@HeyIts_jenny]

Exactly. Also, thank you for the book choice. ❤

[@matrixcolor]

Ive watched a few documentaries about the struggle black dancers have gone through over the years. This is sad and wrong that they have had to fight hard to have a place among the ballet community. These dancers are phenomenal and deserve to have the same chance as anyone else. Michaela is amazing!!

[@skyeoak683]

May I just say how absolutely beautiful those tights look ❤️

[@ellenbrinkman85]

Rip 🕊✨️❤️

[@emilysleightholme2404]

I discovered her when her biography, 'hope in a ballet shoe', jumped out at me at the book shop, and I read it as soon as I got home in one sitting - couldn't put it down! Highly recommend

[@luisecawthorne1025]

So wonderful that there is someone who feels that dance is expression of her heart. Beautiful artist

[@MrGloryglorymanutd18]

She is fantastic and very beautiful.

[@mb-hn1pq]

you fight girl, absolutely awesome achievement!! God only knows your strength. Congratulations 🙏

[@1088RIL]

She is an amazing ballerina but also a very smart woman with a gift for words. I admire her tremendously. Keep on going!

[@greendesertgoddess]

RIP . . .

[@djbaggyeraareyggabjd1087]

If this wasn’t recorded for our viewing people would never know what Michaela went through as a black woman in ballet. Well done Michaela ✊🏿

[@MD-722]

I honestly don't meant to be rude, but DePrince has been the subject of several ballet-related media for years now. Even if you just googled 'ballet documentary' you'd probably come across First Position which was released in 2011 where in which she was still a student and featured as one of the main characters.

[@luisecawthorne1025]

MD-722 - I know you don’t, and no offence here. Unfortunately though, some people still have strange attitudes towards ballet, that it’s a class thing. Films like Step Up and shows like So You Think You Can Dance have made it more accessible by showcasing a range of styles

[@luvSA511]

You deserve every bit of happiness.. May your biological parents and sibling RIP. God be with you always.

[@JRenee-Sings]

A remarkable human being, gone from us way too soon. She and her precious Mother/Father ❤️❤️❤️ Hope the Angels ate watching you dance🩰

[@nampijjanazifah6358]

Thank you for proving them wrong. It's not the the body type its passion and determination.

[@jodidavis6595]

She’s beautiful in every way. Love ❤️👍🏼🇺🇸

[@stephaniemullen448]

A seed was planted in you and I'm glad you didn't let no one or nothing stop you keep on growing into the beautiful person that you where made to be inside and out 💖

[@ellifsyaa]

Cant believe she is gone poor baby😢

[@maryburland2829]

Incredible story....you did it..RIP

[@halseylaiz]

This is one of my favorite stories. Keep inspiring!! 💜💜💜💜

[@jewelmathews1444]

The brown does look so much better, she is right! The line looks better! One day i have hope that humans will evolve & race will not be an issue! We can improve & be better. And young people like her lead the way! She is such an inspiration!

[@craftyjoy9]

You are a beautiful woman and Ballerina! I’m so proud of you you that you didn’t give up! The tough times you terrible but you seem like you used that to push yourself through to get yourself where you’re at today! Thanks for sharing your story! 🙋🏼‍♀️🇺🇸🙏🏻

[@UpsideofNat]

We read her book at school and she is such an inspiration to me now

[@renatamitchell9535]

Your so motivating Michaela 🌺

[@gethsemaneherron7837]

rip michaela mabinty deprince

[@lauriesmith3443]

I Love this girl.

[@queenievalade474]

We just read about you in goodnight stories for rebel girls. What an amazing role model you are.

[@aprilsmith3683]

You strut those brown tights with glee...🇿🇦

[@rachelerickson347]

"We don't put a lot of effort into brown girls because they end up having big boobs and big thighs." WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH YOU! THAT IS SO CRAZY! AAAHHH! Well, nevertheless, she persisted, and she is a jewel on stage!!!!

[@SoulfulRose]

May her soul rest in peace. 🙏🏿

[@dallaslaughsangola1449]

Wonderful

[@marjavanwillegen9722]

Je wordt gemist ❤️

[@lifeofjan2921]

You are powerful!!!!!!

[@candicay]

How strong of a woman, a beautiful black woman she is. To shatter stereotypes, to have to deal with ignorant white people's comments and excel in a dominantly white art form. Her mental and physical strength was forged by what she went through. Nobody can take her flowers.

[@JM-gh1oz]

Yeah. The brown tights look absolutely beautiful. The tights should match one's skin tone, and if the white girls have tights that match their skin tone, then the back girls and other colored girls also need tights that match their skin tones. It's like the argument for brown band-aid for Black people which makes absolute sense.

[@GloriousVictorious]

Radiant.. ⭐✨

[@rosanerio2]

AH---lovely smile....

[@lickwitgold1661]

Rest in peace

[@phoenixjordan7784]

❤️❤️💎❤️❤️

[@EdenLane]

BRAVA

[@DrArleezahMarrah]

❤️

[@HalifaxHercules]

The problem with most dance studios these days is it takes away their individuality and have a factory like mentality as all students wear the same colour tights, leotards, skirt, slippers, and scrunchies based on grade. Not only are they subjected to a factory like uniform, they have to wear their attire from a specific brand. Its even the same with Figure Skating as a majority of girls and women's Figure Skaters wear beige tights and most manufacturers like Mondor and Danskin don't make different colours. Its time for dance studios worldwide to get rid of dress codes and uniforms as it makes them look like a factory.

[@lunamooncat7926]

I don't get why people would even bat an eye at a darker skinned dancer wearing dark tighs. It's amazing what people get enraged at. Besides, the brown tights look wonderful on her. It only makes sense for dancers to wear tights that match their skin tone. I'm really shocked that this isn't common sense.

[@LDSW]

Amazing Michaela...keep doing you and ignore the ones who want to worship the colonial way of dressing for ballet....

[@madmeco]

why wouldn't she wear brown tights...geez

[@ashamohamed6739]

Ooo not me coming from swan✋-

[@barbara1904]

The reason Michael Jackson wore white glittering socks was to emphasise and focus on his feet. So her browns tights and shoes comments are contradictory. You can barely see her lines on stage because of the background.

[@MrGloryglorymanutd18]

God Almighty is love and wants to love and help each other and Jesus Christ of Nazareth died for our sins so we need to repent.

[@brendaannedufaur6244]

Michaela is not doing herself a service artistically or aesthetically in exclusively wearing brown tights and brown pointe shoes. They don't look good! They're not pretty. They're distracting. They blend in too much with the background. The brown pointe shoes look muddy. Michaela said pink pointe shoes and pink tights on a black woman break the line. No. Dark colors break the line by obscuring it. Line is created from inner muscles which produce elongated extensions and arabesques. Yes, costumes and tights affect how much you see of the line such as long tutus vs short tutus, chiffon flowing costumes etc. And many other things affect the look of line or how well you can see the line. The lighter the tights, the lighter the pointe shoes, the better it is because the more you can see. Michaela's brown pointe shoes can sometimes look like blocks. Brown pointe shows don't show the pointed balletic foot nearly as well. Brown in fact can obscure the beautiful pointed balletic feet. Same thing with brown tights. You simply can't see the legs as well - you don't see the muscle delineations. We won't even talk about how legs in brown tights can easily get lost in a dark background. You can't see them. It would be okay to wear brown pointe shoes and brown tights for some ballets. But definitely not for the traditional ballets. The ethereal second act of Giselle in brown tights and brown pointe shoes? Give me a break. Talk about breaking the whole illusive quality of the atmosphere of that ballet! Brown tights would be blasphemous! Generally speaking, I think she looks infinitely better in pink tights and pink pointe shoes in the mainstay ballets. Actually I think very dark black skin of an African American can look interesting or striking in pink tights and pink point shoes and beautiful white tutus! N.Y.C.B.'s former great African American dancer, Arthur Mitchell had the same dark rich skin tone as Michaela. He looked so striking in Agon with his beautiful white t shirt contrasting with his dark skin tone and black tights. Beautiful yes, but I like lighter tights on men - white or pink or light beige because you can see the legs and line much better. Tights and pointe shoes are very soft pastel pink! It's not like they're hot pink! It's a subtle pink! Misty Copeland has fairer skin. Things can suit different skin tones. I think Michaela's natural dark legs without any tights at all would look very beautiful in certain ballets. You would see her muscle delineations and line beautifully. The brown she uses is an ugly brown. She could use other lighter shades if she doesnt want to use pink. Like an ivory or beige tight and pointe shoe. I think she would look great in white tights! Michaela says she only feels like herself in brown tights and brown pointe shoes. Maybe she could evolve one day into feeling comfortable and like herself in both.

[@naomibruce4751]

Ok boomer

[@ss1nga]

The brown tights look beautiful on her!!!

[@adrianaeamaya]

@@naomibruce4751 agreed

[@adrianaeamaya]

"brown tights would be blasphemous." Instead of asking Michaela to re-think her whole perspective and make herself "evolve" to feel comfortable in the strict and traditional ballet white/light tights, maybe just MAYBE the strict, stuffy and overly-steeped in hundreds of years of old-white-men making decisions not based at all on human perspective but instead on aesthetics could "evolve" to be part of the 21st century and accept that brown tights are ok. Maybe when the company has a black soloist the backgrounds could be made to complement HER, the STAR instead of her attempting to literally change the color of her skin.

[@lawriem7747]

Why should she have to evolve? Non of the light-skinned dancers have to.

[@harrynoke6458]

What a carry on

[@fuckoffyoucunt]

i know the bbc don't have much live sports anymore, but whoever made this video needs sacking. Ballet is not a sport !

[@dancinfool2006]

Many physical education studies have shown that dancers are as strong and athletic as most sports athletes, except for the fact that dancers have to make it look effortless. THAT's what it's doing on BBC Sports!

[@fuckoffyoucunt]

@@dancinfool2006 Not knocking any of that. They are fit, but its not a sport !

[@RobertSmith-nv8gp]

Ballet is not sport what's doing on BBC sports

[@dancinfool2006]

Many physical education studies have shown that dancers are as athletic as most sports athletes, except for the fact that dancers have to make it look effortless. THAT's what it's doing on BBC Sports!

[@MD-722]

@@dancinfool2006 Ballet is an art. It is high-art. This video was actually featured in the Gymnastics section of BBC sports not because it's a sport, but because it's a story that would get traction due to its relative placement. They wouldn't put this video in the tennis/archery/netball/modern pentathlon section. Dancers are absolutely athletes but not all athletes are sports people. Even the Cirque du Soleil (which also casts classical ballet dancers) explicitly refers to its performers (even the acrobats, BMXers, divers etc) as artists, and strictly recruits them on the basis that they are DONE with their sporting careers because their career in the circus would be a performing arts one. I am a fan of DePrince and have known of her since before she 'blew up' and as a lifelong gymnastics fan who's favourite even is the floor exercise, I have also always enjoyed dance. But ballet or any dance unless competed under the correct format is not sport.

[@dancinfool2006]

@@MD-722 I suppose that's why there are so many programs with dance/kinesiology combined degrees. No relationship whatsoever.

[@MD-722]

@@dancinfool2006 Just because something is requires athleticism, it does not make it a sport. There are forms of dance that have been stylised into sport format such as dancesport, which is the sport-format of competitive ballroom dancing, something you probably weren't even aware of in spite of your screen-name. But if you read my comments properly (which you didn't because your facetious reply almost toally ignores everything stated above) I never denied ballet's relationship with sport, I just correctly pointed out that it wasn't. Also most of all as per your own comment about ballet's relation to sport, which I actually advocate. This video isn't even about that. It's about the colour of tights worn by black dancers. So sport? Clearly a topic you seem not to understand.

[@komalahayes1535]

THEN YOU DO IT!😡

[@mielerodriguez5678]

Oh the humanity. The struggle. Give me a break.

[@lawriem7747]

But you chose to watch this video?

[@SobrietyandSolace]

This girl knows what struggle is for real