Adriana Pierce is empowering queer female and non-binary performers whose relationships have been excluded from classical dance.
What..?!
Pierce, who left the company after seven seasons to focus on choreography and musical theatre, has rarely felt represented as a queer woman in the ballet world but with her new movement, #QueertheBallet, she hopes to inspire change.
Her first project is a pas de deux en pointe choreographed on the American Ballet Theatre dancers Remy Young and Sierra Armstrong, which she is developing during a dance residency at the Bridge Street theatre in Catskill, New York.
“I want to show people an authentic, complex relationship between two women through ballet,” Pierce explains. “I want people to see that ballet can be more than a man lifting a woman in a tutu.”
Actually, Pierce, I'm not - and never have been - a ballet fan, but I think you'll find that's exactly what people go to see. So why the sudden need to change it?
Although queer men are also largely cast in heteronormative partnerships, while facing well-documented homophobic stigma, the crucial difference for Pierce is visibility.
“Queer women aren’t even on the radar in our spaces. I sometimes do experience overt homophobia, but the worst of it is the micro-aggression. I’m just never considered,” she says.
Ah. Of course. Strange to find a ballet star who's a self-conscious, attention-seeking neurotic, isn't it?
Other queer dancers still feel compelled to prove they can perform ballet’s swan queens and princesses.
“People have this preconceived notion that if a female identifies as queer then there’s something less feminine about them,” says Felder.
Never hear of 'lipstick lesbians', then?
Dancing en pointe is also used as a “gender qualifier” in ballet, Pierce acknowledges. “If you have a man and a woman on stage together, and the woman is en pointe, that sets her apart. She is en pointe to be manipulated and turned.”
Sure, love. Whatever. Really, just like so very many 'Guardian' articles, this one is just one long shout of 'PAY ATTENTION TO MEEEEE!', isn't it?
What on Earth have I just read?
ReplyDeleteSo, Ballet is supposed to be realistic? I look forward to the new production of Swan Lake cast with Cigne-Americans. We've gone straight through stupid, past laughable, and up to are you kidding me
ReplyDeleteWhere do we throw up?
ReplyDelete@JC,
ReplyDeleteYou can't have a Swan Lake ballet, as that denotes female birds, and that would upset the non-binaries. Meanwhile, I am eagerly awaiting a version of Coppelia, with the title role filled by a 6'4" bearded creature in a tutu.
The lady (I hope she is not offended by 'lady' nor 'she') has some points. The observer mentions (but not identified) (perhaps to avoid offence) that she looks like a lesbian when dancing. Heck, I cannot tell the difference.
ReplyDeleteTo save and protect the sensibilities of audiences, readers and dancers too, perhaps ballet dancers should wear signs denoting their particular proclivity. They could have it woven into or embroidered onto their costumes.