The black ballerina who didn't give up
Black ballerina Julie Felix says she left the UK in the 1970s after she was excluded from a ballet company because of the colour of her skin. She became a ballet star in New York.
Growing up in London, Julie Felix always dreamed of dancing on the city's most famous stages, but she says she ended up leaving the UK in the 1970s after a ballet company excluded her because of the colour of her skin. Instead, she became a star in the United States with the prestigious Dance Theatre of Harlem, the first classical ballet company to focus on black dancers. Under the tutelage of the great African-American dancer Arthur Mitchell, Julie travelled the world performing for the likes of the singer Prince, Pavarotti and President Ronald Reagan. A book has been written about Julie's life called Brickbats and Tutus. A shorter version of this story was first broadcast on 15th April 2021.
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com
Presenter & producer: Mariana Des Forges
Picture: A montage of photographs from Julie Felix's life
Credit: All photos courtesy of Julie Felix
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