Housed under Loyola University Chicago’s Jesuit philosophy of reflection, global solidarity, service, and call to action, our professors within the dance program encourage us as students to think critically about our field of study. They challenge us with assignments, asking us to contemplate difficult themes such as sexism, racism, and ableism among others in order to grasp what it means to be an artist for change and for others.
Last semester in our Ballet IV class, we were asked to write a paper about either gender roles or race roles in the dance world. We were provided some texts to respond to and were asked to engage in analysis about how such roles affect us and the dance community at large. I wrote the following paper in response to sexism in ballet to further understand what it means to be a woman pursuing dance as a career and what my social responsibility as an artist consists of. With the current divisive and intolerant political climate, we must call out injustices and work together to find common understanding and respect for all people.
Feature Photo: Lisa Green – Choreography: “Black Bull” by Sarah Cullen Fuller
Right on ladies.