Blackamoors on Ballet Stages
Abstract
Over the past decade, several prominent ballet companies have come under fire for perpetuating racist stereotypes. With blackface, the discourse has focused on the United States and minstrelsy. Ballet’s far older alliance with European colonialism, however, entangles Orientalism and racism, Africa and Asia-Pacific, in the figure of the “blackamoor.”
Fields of Study & Subjects
Arts and Performance Studies
Theater
Performance
and Music History
Theatre and Performance Studies
Publication details
- Journal / source
- TDR/The Drama Review
- Volume
- 70
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 142–159
- Publication date
- 1 March 2026
- Language
- EN