Hey there! My name is Luciana De Jesus, a rising senior at the University of Pittsburgh in the Frederick Honors College. I am majoring in Classics and Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies with a Certificate in Writing. I am so honored to share that I have been awarded the Brackenridge Fellowship via the Frederick Honors College, and am excited to spend the Summer conducting my research!
My research is entitled, Writing as Recovery and Change in Classical Ballet, and uses the modality of a blog to investigate, criticize, and discuss the current pedagogies, traditions, and values of the institution of classical ballet. I am working under my very gracious and amazing research mentor Dr. Courtney Colligan!
The world of Classical Ballet refuses change. Part of its novelty and its gracefulness, is its perceived time portal into the Imperial powers of Russia, of France, or even to 1950s America. But intense nationalistic nostalgia always stands on top of those oppressed by these powers. Ballet’s history of functioning relies on the subjugation of the body, the policing of it. The control of its appearance not just in weight but also specific build and skin color. Standing on ‘tradition’, ballet continues to hurt and harm those who don’t fit into its specific mold.
Many of us have some sort of stake or experience with the ballet world. I danced ballet for almost thirteen years pre-professionally before quitting at age 17. Most people tell me that they tried ballet at three years old, then never again. It is an inside joke among dancers that this comment annoys them, but to me it is hilarious and accurate. Very rarely do three year old’s (or any child) actually enjoy the structure and discipline of the ballet studio. In fact, I spent my first ballet recital running around the stage, ignoring the choreography, waving to my Mom in the audience. Whatever your experience is: you are a dancer, you know or love a dancer, or you used to be a dancer, it is important for us to want things to change for the better.
The Brackenridge Fellowship has given me the space and time this Summer to think deeply about the stakes of this project, and the pervasive problems of the ballet world that I think need changing. I am hoping the work and experience of this Fellowship will give me the skills I need to pursue graduate school in the future. I am excited to see what the future holds for this project, thanks for reading!
P.S. If you want to read more, the link to my online blog is attached here! https://lucianadejesus.substack.com/