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Black British Ballet
Illustration of black female ballet dancer.

Black
British
Ballet

Celebrating the black pioneers in British ballet and sharing their stories with a new generation.

Find out more
Illustration of a black male ballet dancer on pointe.

About

The Black British Ballet project by Oxygen Arts aims to fundamentally change the way that ballet is seen and operates in Britain. We are creating a range of products and activities to share the hidden history of black dancers in British ballet, bringing ballet to new and diverse audiences and driving change in the industry.

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News/Events

Darren Panton, dancer top half of his body in black and white.

New exhibition celebrates ballet’s Black pioneers

The untold stories of Britain’s Black ballet dancers will be put centre stage for the first time in a new touring exhibition. Funded by a £245,500 grant from

Two female dancers in the show.

Our final Island Movements dates!

It's your last chance to catch our Windrush themed ballet Island Movements!

Dancers Ben Lowe, Brenda Garratt-Glassman and Shevelle Dynott.

Support our film The Colour Barre!

Help us to bring the stories of Black British ballet pioneers to a wider audience by supporting our new crowdfunding campaign.

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Shop

Onisere and the Ballet Queen

Onisere wants to be a ballet dancer but there’s just one problem: she’s black and she’s never seen any other ballet dancers who look like her. Enter, the ballet queen, Simbira, who takes Onisere, and her annoying, football mad little brother Tayo, on a fantastical journey through the history of black British ballet.

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Cover image of young female dancer for Onisere and the Ballet Queen book.

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