How Brazilian Dancer Ingrid Silva Is Changing the World — Starting with Ballet! (Exclusive)

Brazilian dancer Ingrid Silva knows she doesn’t look like your so-called “typical” ballerina – and she’s more than proud of it.

However, she wishes that some of the brands that produce shoes, tights and leotards will catch up with her.

“I’ve been in the Dance Theater of Harlem for a decade and I had to paint my pointe shoes [with makeup] until 2019,” says Silva. “They just started changing my skin color in 2019.”

Misty Copeland says the ballet industry is ‘extremely behind’ on racial equality and justice

Silva knows it’s time for the world to recognize that dancers can come in all shapes and sizes — and from all over the world.

“Some other brands do it too, not as many shades as we’d hoped, but this is what we were looking for,” she explains. “My personal goal and dream is to create my own line – I love what Rihanna has done with Fenty makeup and I feel it would be amazing to do it with pointe shoes.”

Silva adds: “Ballet has evolved. There’s still a certain way you have to look, but now you see different body shapes on stage. It’s not just European bodies that ballet was invented from. You’re going to see non-binary dancers on stage now. It’s a big change and it’s really nice for the next generation to see that it’s possible to do ballet, no matter what you look like.”

Ingrid Silva at the premiere of Disney’s “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on December 13, 2023 in New York City.

Noam Galai/Getty

The dancer was born and raised in Rio De Janeiro. Although her family did not have much money, her mother insisted that her two children play sports. “I started swimming at 3 months,” says Silva. “I loved swimming. I actually joined the Olympic team in Brazil. But then ballet came along when I was 8 years old. Which is sometimes considered old. But I just fell in love with the discipline and hard work. Every day I learned something new. I felt I seem to defy gravity.”

Silva joined two tours in Brazil, but at age 18 moved to New York to join the Dance Theater of Harlem, where they spend most of the year touring around the country. She loves meeting fans — especially young black girls who are inspired to maybe take up ballet after seeing her perform.

“I honestly think it’s a big responsibility to be their inspiration, especially because growing up, I didn’t feel like I saw myself in the world of dance, especially in Brazil,” she says. “Things started to develop when I came to New York and I saw more diversity in all senses. But I think it’s really powerful to be a person who inspires people every day. I have an amazing audience that has been following my story since the beginning. So when I’m in different cities and meeting fans backstage, it’s really wonderful.”

Ingrid Silva and daughter Laura.

Ingrid Silva/Instagram

Silva gave birth to a daughter in 2021, and she was equally delighted that she could return to dancing after giving birth. “In the world of dance, your body is often judged, so it constantly puts a lot of pressure on us women to look a certain way. But I was able to dance throughout my pregnancy,” she says.

And she knew that the changes her body went through when she became a mother would only benefit her. “I feel like I’m dancing better than ever,” Silva tells PEOPLE. “I feel that my art when I stand on stage has a different meaning. This body, it is part of the art form, but it is also a maternal place.” She also loves that her daughter can watch her performance from backstage. “It’s important for her to know that her mom worked. It’s very empowering for girls.”

Serena Williams Praises ‘Loving Yourself’ As She Embraces Her Postpartum Body: ‘It’s Worth It’

Silva also helps empower women through her EmpowerHerNY initiative. “It’s a Latina women’s organization, but we work with women all over the world,” she says. “We do panels, we connect women with brands. We bring the resources that each of them need in what they want to be in their life or career. Mental health is really important to us.”

She also revealed that she has famous fans. She starred in a short film about Nike, directed by Serena Williams, and starred in campaigns for brands such as Cadillac. But the biggest thrill was finding out Alicia Keys was a fan and being asked to star in the “She Is a King” campaign for Key’s clothing line.

“We talk a lot,” she says of Keys. “Jennifer Garner is also someone I found out was a fan. It made me realize how my story really got places that I had no idea.”

She adds, “It was amazing.”

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education