En Avant

“En Avant” highlights the internal struggle of a Black ballerina with self-acceptance as she faces racism in a white-dominated art form. It tells the story of one's battle with self-love through black-and-white imagery. After being cast in the lead role of a professional ballet, Ragan is pressured by the ballet’s director to lighten her skin with make-up, in order to be consistent with the white dancers on stage. She reluctantly goes along with the request, but with each performance in the lighter make-up, she feels more degraded. When a young adoring fan tells her she wants to be just like her, the dancer cannot continue to perform feeling such shame. She makes a decision to be authentic, and dance freely, in her own skin.

Country:

United States of America

Genre:

Drama

Duration:

12 minutes

Year:

2022

Director:

Sarah Jean Williams

Cast:

Ragan

Leon

Bailey

Young Ragan

Core Dancer #1

Crew:

Director

Writer

Cinematography

Editor