A Line of Inquiry from Lived Experience: Researching Blacks in Ballet
As a former professional Black ballet dancer who rarely saw representation of artists like herself in ballet documentation, Professor Deans wanted more details about the legacy she was part of. This presentation will share some of her discoveries, the methods she used to research the information, and her experience writing about something so personal.
Presentation Resources:
- Presentation slides
- Arthur Mitchell and Violette Verdi video
- I’ll Make Me A World (Blacks in Ballet) video
- Arthur Mitchell’s Love Letter: Dance Theatre of Harlem and Its Legacies
- Short version video found on slides; Long version video on UofU website
- Black Studies in Ballet Collective video
This event is part of the University of Utah's Black History Month 2026.
Event Format: On Demand
Presenter Name: Joselli Deans, Associate Professor, School of Dance
Track:
- Research Skills & Fundamentals
- Research in Humanities, Social Sciences & the Arts