Can classical ballet finally leave old rules behind? South African dancer Leroy Mokgatle is doing exactly that. As a soloist with Berlin's prestigious Staatsballett, she is challenging long-standing ideas about gender, identity and representation in one of Europe's most traditional art forms. While discussions about racism and inclusion continue across the ballet world, Leroy's success shows how change can happen on and off the stage. We follow her journey from South Africa to Berlin and explore what still needs to change for dancers of all backgrounds to feel welcome.
Chapters
00:00 A ballet star challenging convention
00:30 Backstage before the performance
00:43 Leroy shines in “A Midsummer Night's Dream”
01:13 A slow journey to self-confidence
01:51 Training and early struggles in South Africa
02:13 From Africa to Europe's biggest stages
02:43 Finding support at Staatsballett Berlin
02:52 Representation, identity and inclusion
03:28 Does she miss South Africa?
03:45 Why Berlin feels like home
04:08 Opening doors for future generations
CREDITS:
Report: Andrea Horakh
Camera: Thomas Koppehele
Edit: Gregor Grunenberg
Supervising Editors: Simone Lauenstein
#dweuromaxx #afrimaxx #ballet
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