Bring ballet into 21 century

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xoDUwd41L1A&t=49s .


Hello everyone, this is Chloé.
As you already know while working for the Staatsballett Berlin, I was under the supervision of a ballet mistress who said that having a black female in a “corps de ballet”is not aesthetic.
I started getting bullied soon after I joined the company and it remained so throughout my employment there. The racial mobbing I experienced was mainly expressed with racist jokes and comments. For instance, she found that giving me a white veil during the rehearsal for “La Bayadere” was funny because the veil was white and I am black. At first I tried to handle it internally but I didn’t get the support that I needed, since no real actions were being done. The staatsballett gave no signs of acknowledging the racism that had occurred. I was left no choice but to make my story public and to try and instigate some real change within the institution. So I decided to take legal actions against the Staatsballett Berlin, it felt the right thing to do, but is a decision that has left me in a difficult financial position . That’s the reason why I created this fundraising campaigns, to help me with the lawyer costs, which are quite expensive, and it would increase my chances to see this fight through. By doing so, there is a risk that I won’t find work again since the ballet world is small. But also I want to stand up for myself and all the persons of color in this field, and do the best I can to have a real impact and change offensive practices and mindsets, such as “blackface”.
Because our generation can not tolerate any form of descrimination and abuse anymore. Any amount great or small will be highly appreciated. So If you wish and can donate, you will find the link in my bio. Many thanks for your support,
I wish you all the best, take care.
Chloé Lopes Gomes.