9 Inspiring Black Ballerinas Who Changed the Sport

A phenomenon across all careers and arts, Black women can’t help but dominate every field they enter. This year’s Paris Olympic Games showcased just that, as Black excellence was on display from gymnastics to basketball to track . While the performance art of ballet has long been associated with white talent, Black women have certainly made a long-lasting impact on the industry. From mothers to immigrants, here are a few of the Black women who fought hard and overcame barriers to make sports history.

Misty Copeland

Perhaps the most well-known of Black ballerinas, Misty Copeland was the first African American woman to be promoted to a principal dancer in American Ballet Theatre’s 75-year history. Her excellence is second to none, leaving those who witness her talent in awe as she breaks down boundaries for every other Black ballerina. A true prodigy who built herself from humble beginnings, she was dancing en pointe within three months of taking her first dance class and performing professionally in just over a year— a feat unheard of for any classical dancer.

Ingrid Silva

36-year-old Brazilian ballet dancer Ingrid Silva has been dancing since the age of eight, eventually earning her slot with the Dance Theatre of Harlem in New York City. Despite cultural barriers and the challenges of motherhood, she’s made many strides within the industry. She was the first AfroBrazilian to grace the cover of Pointe Magazine in 2017. She’s also the co-founder of Blacks in Ballet, which aims to highlight black ballet dancers and share their stories.

Ashley Murphy

Ashley Murphy joined The Washington Ballet in 2015 after a 13-year tenure at the Dance Theatre of Harlem. As an unforgettable talent, she’s hit many milestones since. The first Black woman to perform the roles of Giselle and Caroline in Antony Tudor’s Jardin Aux Lilas, she also had the honor of bringing her gifts to the White House. Beyond that, she represented the United States in cultural exchange programs in Jamaica and Honduras. The Amazon Prime documentary, “Black Ballerina,” featured Murphy.

Chyrstyn Fentroy

The first African-American female dancer to join the Boston Ballet company in a decade, Chyrstyn Fentroy has solidified her name in the industry. Her father coached a dance team in hip-hop and jazz her mother trained in classical ballet. This indoctrinated her with a deep connection to the art since childhood. She soon became a principal dancer for the Dance Theatre of Harlem. The company was founded for Black dancers during the civil rights movement.

Courtney Lavine

Bajan and American Courtney Lavine has been a professional ballerina with the American Ballet Theatre for over 14 years.  Falling in love with the art at eight years old, she moved away at 16 to enroll in ballet school in New York City. Since then, she’s fought her way to earn her accolades and prove that any brown ballerina can have a sustainable career in the industry.

Shannon Harkins

A beloved face in the industry for over a decade, Shannon Harkins made space for herself in a realm that wasn’t all that accommodating. After graduating from the Conservatory of Dance at Purchase College, the NY-based artist hit the ground running. She strives to create work that combines aspects of classical technique with added nuances, theatrics and humor.

Ebony Williams

Named one of the Top 25 Dancers to Watch by Dance Magazine, Ebony Williams is nothing short of remarkable. After graduating from the Boston Conservatory in 2005, Williams signed a contract with the renowned Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet. This made her the company’s first African American female dancer. Her choreography credits span from Rihanna to Ciara, and was one of two dancers to perform alongside Beyoncé in her iconic “Single Ladies” video.

Precious Adams

Currently dancing with the English National Ballet, Precious Adams has been vocal about the racial discrimination she’s had to overcome. While a student at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy, faculty deliberately left Adams out of performances, prevented her from taking part in auditions, and told her to “try and rub the black off.” Luckily, she persevered. This earned her a slot as one of the BBC 100 Women, a list of 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world.

Aesha Ash

Aesha Ash danced numerous leading roles as a member of New York City Ballet’s corps de ballet. But Ash wasn’t only a force while she was actively dancing. Her career also continued to be impactful long after her departure. Following her retirement, she founded The Swan Dreams Project to dispel stereotypes about Black women in ballet. In 2020, she also became the first African American female faculty member at the School of American Ballet.

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