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Dancer Lopes Gomes:
Many ensembles look very similar
Photo:
Steffen Jänicke / DER SPIEGEL
The Berlin State Ballet is one of the most renowned ensembles in the world.
91 people from more than 30 nations dance here, it is the largest ballet company in Germany.
The house advertises its diversity on the website in the second sentence.
What is not there: Only one ballerina in the ensemble is black, Chloé Lopes Gomes, 29 years old.
And must leave it after the end of the season in summer 2021.
Now that she has nothing more to lose, the ballerina wants to make public what she has been silent about for a long time: that a ballet master has repeatedly discriminated against her.
And not enough has been done to prevent it.
Those responsible seem helpless and only react hesitantly.
Two years ago, the French Lopes Gomes was accepted into the Berlin State Ballet, as the first black ballerina ever.
At the time she told the tabloid BZ that she didn't look like the rest of the company, but that Tanz didn't know any skin color.
Two years later, she sees it differently.
Dance is white.
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