12 Established 1961 Lifestyle Features Wednesday, January 20, 2021 erlin State Ballet’s first black ‘Harassment’ support of others in the dance world, dancer Chloe Lopes Gomes said Lopes Gomes, who studied at the including her brother Isaac Lopes Bshe has been made to feel differ- renowned Bolshoi ballet in Moscow, felt Gomes, a dancer at the Opera de Paris, ent because of her skin colour since she humiliated-but not surprised. She had and his colleagues. “I don’t know anyone first donned ballet shoes as a child. But been subject to “harassment” at the who hasn’t had racist comments like ‘You after she was again subjected to what hands of her boss ever since her arrival have to straighten your hair because you she described as “racism” at Germany’s in Berlin in 2018, she said. “In our first have a lion’s mane, you have to tuck in largest dance company, she has rehearsal for ‘Swan Lake’, six of us were your black a**, you jump like Kirikou (the launched a fightback that has forced the new but all of the corrections were direct- African child star of an animated film)’,” State Ballet to launch an internal investi- ed at me,” she said. The remarks contin- Lopes Gomes said. Since she began gation into her complaints. In an inter- ued for months. “She used to say to me, dancing as a child, she has been made view with AFP, Lopes Gomes stood by ‘When you’re not in line, you are the only to feel like an outsider. her allegations against the Berlin compa- person we see because you are black’”- “They never had the right make-up for ny, arguing that it was time for the classi- comments also confirmed by the other my skin tone, I had to bring my own. And cal ballet world to address the issue. dancer. French ballet dancer Chloe Lopes Gomes poses for a picture outside the Deutsche Oper in I was the only one who had to adapt my Recalling instances where she was Lopes Gomes carried on, because Berlin. — AFP hairstyles” because the hairdressers did- made to feel uncomfortable, Lopes she is a “hard worker” who wanted to n’t know how to style frizzy hair, she said. Gomes cited a rehearsal for a produc- show “that I deserved my place”, said When told of the allegations in the report any incidents of discrimination,” She was always “so desperate” to fit in tion of the 19th-century ballet “La the dancer, born to a French mother and autumn, the company, which employs Theobald said. The ballet mistress at the that she just went along with it. “But Bayadere”, when the company’s ballet a Cape Verdean father. But the stress people of 30 different nationalities, center of the scandal has refused to these are details that make you feel mistress was handing around white veils took its toll. She injured her foot, leading responded with shock. “We didn’t think comment and the company does not excluded.” It’s an uphill battle, given that for the dancers to wear. When she got to to eight months off and a course of anti- we could be affected by everyday wish to speculate on possible discipli- classical ballet is governed by strict rules Lopes Gomes, she laughed, the 29- depressants. After her return, last racism simply because of our diversity. nary proceedings against her for legal dating back to the 19th century that are year-old French dancer told AFP. “I can’t February, she was asked to wear white In fact, we never thought about it. But we reasons. Lopes Gomes will leave the designed to create an impression of give you one. The veil is white and make-up for a production following the were wrong,” acting director Christiane Berlin State Ballet in July as her contract homogeneity. But it’s time for that to you’re black,” she was told. Another departure of a director who had opposed Theobald told AFP. Asking a black artist was not renewed. change, Lopes Gomes said. “I’m tired of dancer from the company confirmed the idea. “Lightening my skin felt like to wear white make-up is an “absolute hearing that you can’t hire black people Lopes Gomes’ account on condition of denying my identity,” said Lopes Gomes, no-go”, she admits. In December, the ‘Elitist and exclusive’ because they don’t have the bodies for anonymity. The ballet mistress “said it who has also performed with the Opera Berlin State Ballet launched an internal In a world that is “very elitist and ballet. It’s just an excuse.”— AFP like it was a joke... I was completely de Nice in France and Switzerland’s investigation into discrimination and exclusive”, she knows she has taken a shocked,” she said. Ballet Bejart. racism. “All employees can anonymously risk by speaking out. But she has the he Netflix drama - based around the The Crown (Netflix) Janet McTeer - Ozark (Netflix) Best Limited Series British royal family - came out on top The Good Fight (CBS All Access) Wunmi Mosaku - Lovecraft Country I May Destroy You (HBO) Tas the nominations for the annual tel- Lovecraft Country (HBO) (HBO) Mrs. America (FX) evision awards show, which will take The Mandalorian (Disney+) Rhea Seehorn - Better Call Saul (AMC) Normal People (Hulu) place on March 8, were announced. Ozark (Netflix) The Plot Against America (HBO) There is a coveted Best Drama Series Perry Mason (HBO) Best Comedy Series The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix) nod for ‘The Crown’ whilst Josh O’Connor This Is Us (NBC) Better Things (FX) Small Axe (Amazon Studios) Ryan Reynolds, Betty White and - who plays Prince Charles in seasons The Flight Attendant (HBO Max) The Undoing (HBO) Sandra Bullock three and four of the show - received a Mom (CBS) Unorthodox (Netflix) nomination for Best Actor in a Drama PEN15 (Hulu) Series. Best Actress in a Drama Series will Ramy (Hulu) Best Movie Made for Television see two of ‘The Crown’s star’s Olivia Schitt’s Creek (Pop) Bad Education (HBO) Colman and Emma Corrin go head to Ted Lasso (Apple TV+) Between the World and Me (HBO) head for the top honour. Tobias Menzies, What We Do in the Shadows (FX) The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel who plays Prince Philip, and Gillian (Lifetime) Anderson, as Margaret Thatcher, are up Best Actor in a Comedy Series Hamilton (Disney+) for Best Supporting Actor and Actress. Hank Azaria - Brockmire (IFC) Sylvie’s Love (Amazon Studios) Elsewhere, ‘Schitt’s Creek’ received Matt Berry - What We Do in the Shadows What the Constitution Means to Me five nominations including Best Comedy (FX) (Amazon Studios) Series as well as Best Actor in a Comedy Nicholas Hoult - The Great (Hulu) Series for Eugene Levy and Best Actress Eugene Levy - Schitt’s Creek (Pop) Best Actor in a Limited Series in a Comedy Series for Catherine O’Hara Jason Sudeikis - Ted Lasso (Apple TV+) or Movie Made for Television yan Reynolds has hailed as well as Best Supporting Actor and Ramy Youssef - Ramy (Hulu) John Boyega - Small Axe (Amazon Betty White as the “funniest Actress in a Comedy Series for its stars Best Actor in a Drama Series Studios) Rperson on the planet” as she Daniel Levy and Annie Murphy respec- Jason Bateman - Ozark (Netflix) Best Actress in a Comedy Series Hugh Grant - The Undoing (HBO) turned 99 on Sunday. The veteran tively. ‘Normal People’ receives a nod for Sterling K. Brown - This Is Us (NBC) Pamela Adlon - Better Things (FX) Paul Mescal - Normal People (Hulu) television star celebrated her 99th Best Limited Series, with nods for its lead Jonathan Majors - Lovecraft Country Christina Applegate - Dead to Me Chris Rock - Fargo (FX) birthday over the weekend, and to actor and actress, Paul Mescal and Daisy (HBO) (Netflix) Mark Ruffalo - I Know This Much is True mark the momentous occasion, Edgar-Jones. Paul will go head to head Josh O’Connor - The Crown (Netflix) Kaley Cuoco - The Flight Attendant (HBO (HBO) several celebrities took to social with John Boyega (‘Small Axe’), Hugh Bob Odenkirk - Better Call Saul (AMC) Max) Morgan Spector - The Plot Against media to pay tribute to the leg- Grant (‘The Undoing’), Chris Rock Matthew Rhys - Perry Mason (HBO) Natasia Demetriou - What We Do in the America (HBO) endary actress. Ryan shared a (‘Fargo’), Mark Ruffalo (‘I Know This Much Shadows (FX) throwback clip on his Instagram is True’) and Morgan Spector (‘The Plot Best Actress in a Drama Series Catherine O’Hara - Schitt’s Creek (Pop) Best Actress in a Limited Series Story of a hilarious promotional Against America’) whilst Daisy faces the Christine Baranski - The Good Fight Issa Rae - Insecure (HBO) or Movie Made for Television video shot for his 2009 film ‘The likes of Cate Blanchett (‘Mrs. America’), (CBS All Access) Cate Blanchett - Mrs. America (FX) Proposal’ - in which he starred Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen’s Gambit) Olivia Colman - The Crown (Netflix) Best Supporting Actor Michaela Coel - I May Destroy You alongside Betty and Sandra Bullock and Tessa Thompson (Sylvie’s Love). Emma Corrin - The Crown (Netflix) in a Comedy Series (HBO) - and wrote: “We made this 12 Kelly Clarkson received a nomination Claire Danes - Homeland (Showtime) William Fichtner - Mom (CBS) Daisy Edgar-Jones - Normal People years ago. Betty turns 99 today, but for Best Talk Show alongside the likes of Laura Linney - Ozark (Netflix) Harvey Guillen - What We Do in the (Hulu) she is 100 per cent the funniest per- ‘Late Night with Seth Meyers’, ‘The Late Jurnee Smollett - Lovecraft Country Shadows (FX) Shira Haas - Unorthodox (Netflix) son on the planet.” And Betty’s big Show with Stephen Colbert’ and ‘Red (HBO) Daniel Levy - Schitt’s Creek (Pop) Anya Taylor-Joy - The Queen’s Gambit day also brought in tributes from Table Talk’.