1 00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:07,360 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Anny and Samantha and welcome to stuff. 2 00:00:07,400 --> 00:00:08,680 Speaker 1: I never told your prediction by her. 3 00:00:08,640 --> 00:00:22,560 Speaker 2: Ideo And for this month of activist around the World, 4 00:00:22,760 --> 00:00:25,880 Speaker 2: I thought we would continue down the arts and artivism 5 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 2: path by featuring and acclaimed a ballet dancer an activist, 6 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:33,519 Speaker 2: Ingrid Silva. But before we start any have we ever 7 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:37,479 Speaker 2: talked about ballet? I don't know, I can't think of it. 8 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:39,560 Speaker 2: Have you ever taken ballet? Did you take ballet? 9 00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:40,080 Speaker 1: Yes? 10 00:00:40,159 --> 00:00:42,480 Speaker 2: Oh you did? You are know a lot of activities 11 00:00:42,479 --> 00:00:45,320 Speaker 2: as a kid, your preparents has some money. Say this 12 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:47,800 Speaker 2: jealously as I've never had these activities, but you did. 13 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:50,560 Speaker 2: How long did you do ballet for? Uh? 14 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:56,040 Speaker 1: I think at least four or five years? And I 15 00:00:56,440 --> 00:01:00,960 Speaker 1: loved it mostly five years. I loved the outfits. That 16 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:02,560 Speaker 1: was my favor. That was my favorite. 17 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:03,720 Speaker 2: Ward. Did you like twirling? 18 00:01:04,600 --> 00:01:07,840 Speaker 1: I liked twirling. I was honestly very insecure in the 19 00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:11,440 Speaker 1: whole thing. But the outfits I liked, and I meant 20 00:01:11,840 --> 00:01:17,560 Speaker 1: two of my best friends best friends through ballet. One 21 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:21,440 Speaker 1: was my before I moved to where I would say 22 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 1: I grew up. We have a picture together during ballet, 23 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:28,120 Speaker 1: And then, in an odd way, a lot of you 24 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:32,000 Speaker 1: old time listeners know one of my best friends, Katie, 25 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:35,240 Speaker 1: she was also in ballet, and there's a picture we 26 00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:37,959 Speaker 1: took before we even knew each other and I was 27 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:42,520 Speaker 1: dancing and she was right there like watching, and it's like. 28 00:01:43,080 --> 00:01:45,440 Speaker 2: It was meant to be. It was meant to be 29 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:47,720 Speaker 2: kind of like got to be cute. Yeah, I love 30 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:49,720 Speaker 2: that I did not get to dance ballet. And I 31 00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:53,240 Speaker 2: will say, as much as I love dance, ballet is 32 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:54,920 Speaker 2: one of those that I'm like, yeah, I could never 33 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:59,120 Speaker 2: My thick thighs and my thick calves I don't think, 34 00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:01,560 Speaker 2: and my weak ink. I twist my ankles like a 35 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:04,280 Speaker 2: nobody's business. Maybe I should have just so that I 36 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:07,480 Speaker 2: drink my ankles because that was bad. But it is 37 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:10,800 Speaker 2: a gift to watch people who are talented in ballet 38 00:02:11,160 --> 00:02:14,560 Speaker 2: and also really intimidating because I'm like, el, that takes 39 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:18,240 Speaker 2: a lot, Yes, how do you do that? How do 40 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:20,880 Speaker 2: you do that? Well? Obviously we're going to talk about 41 00:02:20,919 --> 00:02:24,079 Speaker 2: one who has done so well and had the natural talent, 42 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:28,000 Speaker 2: and yes, I have never experienced the pains and joy 43 00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:31,639 Speaker 2: of ballet, but we know Silva has and not only 44 00:02:31,880 --> 00:02:34,280 Speaker 2: doing what she loves, but she's made sure to use 45 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:37,080 Speaker 2: her passion to open the doors for others to experience 46 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 2: love and passion of ballet as well. Silva started her 47 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:42,680 Speaker 2: dance journey at the age of eight when she started 48 00:02:42,720 --> 00:02:45,480 Speaker 2: attending ballet through a community outreach program in Rio de 49 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:48,560 Speaker 2: Janeiro with her brother, which is where she grew up, 50 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:52,480 Speaker 2: and seeing that she was naturally talented, her teacher encouraged 51 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:54,720 Speaker 2: her to continue to learn more and grow in her 52 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:57,280 Speaker 2: skill and technique, which is what she did, which is 53 00:02:57,320 --> 00:02:59,960 Speaker 2: again we've talked about how amazing mentors and people who 54 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:02,360 Speaker 2: who are there and really encourage you, how that can 55 00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:05,959 Speaker 2: be life changing. Here's another example. So, at the age 56 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:08,520 Speaker 2: of seventeen, she became an apprentice at one of the 57 00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:12,160 Speaker 2: most prestigious Brazilian dance companies, Grupo Corpo, and she would 58 00:03:12,200 --> 00:03:14,360 Speaker 2: go on to continue her training and studies at the 59 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:18,239 Speaker 2: Central Universitario desacad but would soon move to New York 60 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:20,720 Speaker 2: where she would be invited to join the dtch and 61 00:03:20,960 --> 00:03:24,120 Speaker 2: Ensemble at the Dance Theater of Harlem by the founder, 62 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:27,280 Speaker 2: Arthur Mitchell. So she was invited to do the junior company, 63 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:29,600 Speaker 2: and I believe the company disbanded for a minute, and 64 00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:32,920 Speaker 2: then they came back together and in twenty twelve she 65 00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 2: joined the company permanently. I believe she is still there 66 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:40,320 Speaker 2: today being the main dancer. So anybody who's seen Center 67 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:42,960 Speaker 2: Stage you know what I'm talking about main dancers. So 68 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:46,480 Speaker 2: in an article she wrote for Dancemagazine dot com, she 69 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:49,040 Speaker 2: says this about her love of dance and ballet. I 70 00:03:49,040 --> 00:03:52,520 Speaker 2: have always been very energetic. I remember listening to music 71 00:03:52,560 --> 00:03:56,320 Speaker 2: at home with my parents. Dancing came so easily. There's 72 00:03:56,320 --> 00:03:58,960 Speaker 2: something in music, any kind of music, that fascinates me. 73 00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:01,960 Speaker 2: Since I was eight years years old, dance has been 74 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:04,400 Speaker 2: in a big part of my life. I always say 75 00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:07,839 Speaker 2: that I didn't choose ballet. Ballet chose me. I've had 76 00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:11,080 Speaker 2: to and I still have to overcome so many adversities 77 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:13,560 Speaker 2: in dance. But one thing I am proud of is that, 78 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:16,480 Speaker 2: no matter what happens, giving up has never been an 79 00:04:16,520 --> 00:04:19,000 Speaker 2: option for me. As an artist, you learn how to 80 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:22,719 Speaker 2: develop love, patience, space, and a deep understanding of why 81 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:25,560 Speaker 2: you do what you do. How does dance make me feel? 82 00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:27,920 Speaker 2: Is it even a feeling or is it a moment, 83 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:30,880 Speaker 2: a dream, a reality. I only know that I am 84 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:34,479 Speaker 2: myself fully when I am on stage dancing that's where 85 00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 2: I feel safe and right at home. I love everything 86 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:41,480 Speaker 2: about that, everything about that. And she has continued to 87 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:44,520 Speaker 2: go down this path no matter that. Adversities are challenges 88 00:04:44,560 --> 00:04:47,120 Speaker 2: she's spaced. And in another article she was featured in 89 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:50,479 Speaker 2: for Snowfi dot com, they write this about her and 90 00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:53,440 Speaker 2: her experiences. With the support of her family, she was 91 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:56,520 Speaker 2: able to nurture and refine her natural talents, leading to 92 00:04:56,520 --> 00:04:59,200 Speaker 2: an opportunity for her to take on new heights to 93 00:04:59,279 --> 00:05:02,520 Speaker 2: fulfill her dream. It wasn't an easy journey coming to 94 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:04,480 Speaker 2: New York. She had to leave her family and learn 95 00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:08,479 Speaker 2: a new language. All this intense training, persistence, and the 96 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:11,279 Speaker 2: will to make a statement made Ingrid the ballerina that 97 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:14,680 Speaker 2: she is today. So not only did it make her 98 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:18,120 Speaker 2: the success and talented dancer she is today, but also 99 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:21,159 Speaker 2: pushed her to become an advocate for other dancers like her. 100 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:25,320 Speaker 2: So in twenty seventeen, she started the pod, her nonprofit 101 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:29,040 Speaker 2: which quote aims to amplify women's voices and matters regarding 102 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:33,040 Speaker 2: various areas and Foster's female sorority. And this is from 103 00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:35,159 Speaker 2: the un dot Org. And she goes on to say 104 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:38,320 Speaker 2: in that article, we are a platform that generates opportunities 105 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:41,360 Speaker 2: for education and network for those aspiring to claim their 106 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:54,760 Speaker 2: own path, and in an interview with The Today Show, 107 00:05:54,839 --> 00:05:57,359 Speaker 2: she revealed that she had to color her own point 108 00:05:57,400 --> 00:06:00,560 Speaker 2: shoes with makeup to match her skin tone, as it 109 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:03,360 Speaker 2: was not available to her at the time. She had 110 00:06:03,400 --> 00:06:06,240 Speaker 2: gone on the show to advocate four more diversity within 111 00:06:06,279 --> 00:06:09,320 Speaker 2: the ballet world and has since then become a representative 112 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:12,960 Speaker 2: in the movement. So in an article highlighting her career 113 00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:16,760 Speaker 2: and work in Who Whatwear dot Com, they write this 114 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:20,120 Speaker 2: about this moment without a doubt, one of her most 115 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:23,080 Speaker 2: frequently discussed topics in the lack of diverse shades and 116 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:25,920 Speaker 2: point shoes, and the fact that several well known ballet 117 00:06:25,920 --> 00:06:29,719 Speaker 2: companies and schools still enforce pink tights and shoes as 118 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:33,120 Speaker 2: a uniform requirement. Due to the glaringly limited amount of 119 00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:36,320 Speaker 2: point shoe shade offerings, dancers of deeper skin tones are 120 00:06:36,360 --> 00:06:39,320 Speaker 2: often required to pancake them the act of altering the 121 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:41,400 Speaker 2: color of their shoes to match a skin tone for 122 00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:45,120 Speaker 2: elongated lines. The Dance Theater of Harlem was one of 123 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:48,120 Speaker 2: the first companies to encourage their dancers to wear tights 124 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:51,120 Speaker 2: and shoes that match their skin tone, departing from the 125 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:55,240 Speaker 2: widely accepted ballerina pink. Silva arrived wearing pink tights and 126 00:06:55,279 --> 00:06:57,760 Speaker 2: shoes on her first day for her previous training, but 127 00:06:57,880 --> 00:07:00,480 Speaker 2: was strongly encouraged to differ from her natural shit shade. 128 00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:03,640 Speaker 2: So she had these shoes, and it was such a 129 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:06,719 Speaker 2: big deal that they actually took those shoes and were 130 00:07:07,240 --> 00:07:10,360 Speaker 2: because we know things have changed at the Smithsonian, so 131 00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:13,000 Speaker 2: dot dot dot someone could feel that in later. For me, 132 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 2: I guess because I don't want to see it. I 133 00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:16,240 Speaker 2: don't want to be sad right now. But they were 134 00:07:16,360 --> 00:07:20,760 Speaker 2: featured as a display in the Smithsonian National Museum of 135 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:23,080 Speaker 2: African American History and Culture because it was such a 136 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:26,240 Speaker 2: significant moment and people understood what was happening and what 137 00:07:26,360 --> 00:07:29,320 Speaker 2: needed to change. So the article continues with her saying this, 138 00:07:29,760 --> 00:07:31,960 Speaker 2: I felt so much better about the way my lines 139 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:34,280 Speaker 2: looked after starting to wear my brown tys and shoes. 140 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:37,000 Speaker 2: We have to look at ourselves in the mirror for hours, 141 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:39,360 Speaker 2: and being required to wear the wrong shade of things 142 00:07:39,440 --> 00:07:43,040 Speaker 2: because my color isn't included is unfair. She says. This 143 00:07:43,120 --> 00:07:46,400 Speaker 2: experience inspired Silva to found her own point shoe company 144 00:07:46,440 --> 00:07:48,680 Speaker 2: and continue to question a number of the ballet World's 145 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:52,320 Speaker 2: accepted practices, which again, it seems like something that you 146 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:55,000 Speaker 2: wouldn't often think about. But they talk about how the 147 00:07:55,040 --> 00:07:57,520 Speaker 2: lines are long, and this creates the illusion and then 148 00:07:57,760 --> 00:08:00,640 Speaker 2: it breaks because you're not in an approach tire that 149 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:04,360 Speaker 2: matches you. That's so sad. Why wouldn't that be a 150 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:08,160 Speaker 2: common sense. I feelt that's such an easy change too. 151 00:08:08,600 --> 00:08:11,520 Speaker 2: I believe she's also been featured by Nike. I don't 152 00:08:11,520 --> 00:08:13,640 Speaker 2: know if she was sponsored by Nike, but featured by 153 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:19,040 Speaker 2: Nike in different ads for her stance and diversifying ballet 154 00:08:19,240 --> 00:08:21,320 Speaker 2: and clothing within ballet. So she has done a lot 155 00:08:21,320 --> 00:08:25,840 Speaker 2: of work with this specific topic, and she has also 156 00:08:25,920 --> 00:08:29,080 Speaker 2: used her platforms in other ways, including advocating for mothers 157 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:31,240 Speaker 2: in the industry. And I feel like that seems like 158 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:34,320 Speaker 2: a pretty common knowledge that they retire young. A lot 159 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:37,360 Speaker 2: of ballet dancers retire young, and from what I understand, 160 00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:41,120 Speaker 2: after giving birth or having children oftentimes their sideline. And 161 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:44,280 Speaker 2: she really wanted to change that narrative as well. From 162 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:50,080 Speaker 2: that same article, from what where they write historically female 163 00:08:50,160 --> 00:08:53,080 Speaker 2: dancers have been discouraged from continuing their careers during and 164 00:08:53,120 --> 00:08:56,880 Speaker 2: after pregnancy. My body changed a lot when I was pregnant. 165 00:08:57,040 --> 00:08:59,439 Speaker 2: My center of gravity wasn't the same. I kept dancing 166 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:01,959 Speaker 2: all the way up until my final month, and then 167 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:05,040 Speaker 2: after having my daughter, Laura decided to trade my body 168 00:09:05,040 --> 00:09:07,400 Speaker 2: so that I could go back to work. It was hard, 169 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:09,640 Speaker 2: silver shares, and she did like the fact that she 170 00:09:09,720 --> 00:09:11,920 Speaker 2: did it while she was pregnant. 171 00:09:12,559 --> 00:09:13,280 Speaker 1: Yeah. 172 00:09:13,320 --> 00:09:17,400 Speaker 2: Wow. And apparently when her recovery time was so short, 173 00:09:17,720 --> 00:09:20,360 Speaker 2: so short, and she came right back to the stage, 174 00:09:21,480 --> 00:09:25,680 Speaker 2: I can't imagine. Nope, Oh, thank you. So she co 175 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:29,480 Speaker 2: founded Dancers in Motherhood and a little bit about that 176 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:33,240 Speaker 2: organization from un dot org. It is a platform created 177 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:35,680 Speaker 2: by all four women who are professionals and leaders in 178 00:09:35,679 --> 00:09:38,880 Speaker 2: the dance world, but who are above all mothers, dancers 179 00:09:38,880 --> 00:09:41,480 Speaker 2: and motherhood believe we can unite for a more inclusive 180 00:09:41,559 --> 00:09:45,240 Speaker 2: dance world. Unite by sharing our experiences without judgment to 181 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:48,280 Speaker 2: encourage empathy and changes needed to support families in the 182 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:51,920 Speaker 2: dance community. I love that just because you have a 183 00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:53,920 Speaker 2: child doesn't mean in your career if you can get 184 00:09:53,960 --> 00:09:55,800 Speaker 2: back to it, that is, if you want to, if 185 00:09:55,840 --> 00:09:58,679 Speaker 2: you want you want to, if you want to. She 186 00:09:58,760 --> 00:10:02,079 Speaker 2: has also co founded bla in Ballet, which celebrates dancers 187 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:05,240 Speaker 2: of colors all around, giving opportunity and resources for those 188 00:10:05,240 --> 00:10:08,199 Speaker 2: who want to become dancers themselves. They have an amazing 189 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:11,959 Speaker 2: video of some dances and her talking and being interviewed 190 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:15,720 Speaker 2: about that organization. It's gorgeous, so you should take some 191 00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:18,920 Speaker 2: time to watch it. In the Dance magazine dot com 192 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:21,880 Speaker 2: article that she writes, she says this, as a black 193 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:24,559 Speaker 2: Latina immigrant mother and a woman, I carry so much 194 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:27,720 Speaker 2: culture and so many ancestors. I embrace all of them. 195 00:10:27,960 --> 00:10:30,320 Speaker 2: They make me unique, and I bring them to my dance, 196 00:10:30,520 --> 00:10:35,640 Speaker 2: making it unique. I love all of that. Yeah. And 197 00:10:35,760 --> 00:10:38,640 Speaker 2: of course she continues to do exactly that, and she 198 00:10:38,679 --> 00:10:41,760 Speaker 2: has received a lot of accolades for her work. Just 199 00:10:41,800 --> 00:10:44,520 Speaker 2: a couple in twenty twenty one, she spoke at the 200 00:10:44,559 --> 00:10:49,040 Speaker 2: Harvard University Latina Empowerment and Development Conference and was recognized 201 00:10:49,080 --> 00:10:52,480 Speaker 2: with the Latina Trailblazers Award. She was featured in The 202 00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:55,760 Speaker 2: Forest Brazil magazine as one of the twenty successful Women 203 00:10:55,920 --> 00:10:58,360 Speaker 2: in Brazil in twenty twenty one. So so much more, 204 00:10:58,400 --> 00:11:00,959 Speaker 2: and then, of course she's been featured in so many programs. 205 00:11:01,040 --> 00:11:03,640 Speaker 2: She's been the star, she's been the main dancer, and 206 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:07,360 Speaker 2: she created so much more. Yeah, go back and look 207 00:11:07,360 --> 00:11:10,160 Speaker 2: at her works because it's gorgeous. There's a photo from 208 00:11:10,200 --> 00:11:12,600 Speaker 2: her article Dance Magazine dot com that's one of the 209 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:16,920 Speaker 2: most beautifully breathtaken photos I've ever seen in ballets. I'm like, 210 00:11:16,920 --> 00:11:19,480 Speaker 2: oh my god, So definitely go and check that out. 211 00:11:20,360 --> 00:11:26,400 Speaker 1: Yes, yes, absolutely, and listeners. As always, if you have 212 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:30,120 Speaker 1: any thoughts about this or any people you think we 213 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:33,760 Speaker 1: should highlight, our organizations you think we should highlight, please 214 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:36,520 Speaker 1: let us know. You can email us at Hello at 215 00:11:36,559 --> 00:11:38,439 Speaker 1: Stuffannever Told You dot com. You can find us on 216 00:11:38,480 --> 00:11:40,960 Speaker 1: blue Sky at mom Stuff podcast, our Instagram, and TikTok 217 00:11:40,960 --> 00:11:43,280 Speaker 1: at stuff Never Told You. We're also on YouTube. We 218 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:46,440 Speaker 1: have some merchandise at commbureau, and we have a book 219 00:11:46,679 --> 00:11:49,240 Speaker 1: you can get wherever you get here. Thanks it's always 220 00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:51,679 Speaker 1: to our super produce Christ, senior executive producer Maya, and 221 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:52,680 Speaker 1: your contributor Joey. 222 00:11:52,840 --> 00:11:54,840 Speaker 2: Thank you, and thanks to you for listening. 223 00:11:54,720 --> 00:11:56,480 Speaker 1: Stuff I've Never Told You. Specture my Heart Radio for 224 00:11:56,480 --> 00:11:58,160 Speaker 1: more podcasts from my Heart Radio, you can check out 225 00:11:58,160 --> 00:12:00,160 Speaker 1: the heart Radio app, app a podcast or ovulat to 226 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:01,040 Speaker 1: your favorite shows.