Free event
About
This August, Pontefract Library hosts a compelling exhibition celebrating pioneering Black British ballet dancers. Discover powerful stories and rare archival material, including:
- An interview with Marie Kamara, member of Europe’s first Black dance company, Les Ballets Nègres, founded by Jamaicans Berto Pasuka and Richard Riley in 1946.
- Reflections from Brenda Garratt-Glassman, the first Black British student at the Royal Ballet Upper School.
- Archival footage of Darren Panton, the first Black British student at the Royal Ballet boarding school.
- The story of Shevelle Dynott, the first dancer from Chance to Dance to forge a professional career in ballet.
The Black British Ballet Project aims to fundamentally change the way that ballet is perceived and operates in Britain. The project is based on the PhD work of Dr Sandie Mae Bourne. We are proud to partner with English National Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, The Royal Ballet and Libraries Connected on this project.
When black British dancers started to train in mainstream ballet institutions in the 1970s, students like Panton and Garratt-Glassman were told by UK institutions that they would not be hired because they were black. They, and almost every other black dancer who trained in this period, were forced to seek work abroad, most notably at Dance Theatre of Harlem.
It was not until the mid-1980s that black dancers began to find success in established British ballet companies, but progress remained slow. This led to schemes such as The Royal Ballet’s Chance to Dance and Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Dance Track, launched in 1991 and 1997 respectively, to help children from diverse backgrounds access ballet training.
Despite these efforts, Oxygen Arts estimates that less than 3% of dancers currently employed in the biggest three ballet companies are from a Black British background.
The Black British Ballet project is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Arts Council England, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ Windrush Day Fund and the Black Funding Network. It is delivered in partnership with English National Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, The Royal Ballet, Royal Academy of Dance, Dance Theatre of Harlem and Central School of Ballet and Kidbrooke Community Hub.
Venue opening hours
Monday : 9:30 am - 7:00 pm
Tuesday : 9:30 am - 5:00 pm
Wednesday : 9:30 am - 6:00 pm
Thursday : Closed
Friday : 9:30 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday : 9:30 am - 4:00 pm
Sunday : Closed
Access facilities
- Accessible Toilet
- Assistance Dogs Welcome
- Baby Changing Facilities
- Hearing Aid Loop
- Step Free Access
- Wheelchair Accessible
Venue Details
Find us at
Shoemarket, Pontefract, WF8 1BD
Phone
01977727692
pontefractlibrary@wakefield.gov.uk