This is an ORIGINAL PAINTING by my author, made with professional oil paints on canvas.
This painting is stretched on a wooden frame, fully ready to be hung on the wall. The side edges of the painting are painted, and it does not require additional decoration in the frame.
In my painting I use only professional art materials, natural canvas, oil paint, brushes and a knife.
The painting is covered with a special artistic varnish that will preserve it for many years.
As an artist, I am deeply interested in the subject of African American women in professional ballet.
Art should be - and must be! - above any prejudice. But racial inequality is a big (and very little spoken of) part of the professional ballet world. The history of ballet tells us that the word "ballerina" implied the words "white" and "privileged".
It wasn't until 2015 that Misty Copeland became the first African American to be promoted to principal dancer of the American Ballet Theater.
In the world of professional ballet Black ballerinas have faced overt and covert discrimination. They were pressured into coloring their skin to look whiter, wearing white skin makeup, straightening their curly hair and wearing white tights. They were asked "to blend in" which meant to hide their African origin and individual features of their appearance.
Now, after a long fight for equality we can celebrate the new and exciting opportunities for Black ballerinas. Not only beautiful Misty Copeland and Aesha Ash but many other talented Black dancers rise to the top of the ballet world and receive well-deserved recognition.
I will continue to study about women in ballet, portray them and admire their work and talent.
