En Avant

“En Avant” highlights the internal struggle of a Black ballerina with self-acceptance as she faces racism in a white-dominated art form. It tells the story of one's battle with self-love through black-and-white imagery. After being cast in the lead role of a professional ballet, Ragan is pressured by the ballet’s director to lighten her skin with make-up, in order to be consistent with the white dancers on stage. She reluctantly goes along with the request, but with each performance in the lighter make-up, she feels more degraded. When a young adoring fan tells her she wants to be just like her, the dancer cannot continue to perform feeling such shame. She makes a decision to be authentic, and dance freely, in her own skin.

Cast

Toi'ya Leatherwood Ragan Kevin Scott Allen Leon

Natalya James Washington Bailey

Noraye Gardiner Young Ragan

Katie O'Gara Core Dancer #1

Emily Van Citters Core Dancer #2

Eliza S. Tollett Core Dancer #3

Anaïs Blake Core Dancer #4

Metadata from the source database.