Breaking Ballet Barriers: Ingrid Silva’s Journey from Rio to Harlem to Motherhood

Postpartum Production

“Companies oftentimes see dancers, especially women, "unable" to have a career, a professional career after they're becoming mothers. And that's also part of the patriarchy because this is not how it works. Having a child and coming back to work, it can potentialize your work in so many ways. It can bring a broader vision for yourself and for others around you. It can change everything.” - Ingrid Silva

Ingrid Silva was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where she began classical ballet training at age eight in the Dançando Para Não Dançar, a program that provided training to young people who could not otherwise afford dance classes.

Throughout her childhood, Silva was inspired by Brazilian ballet dancers, Mercedes Baptista and Ana Botafogo. Outside of Baptista, however, she had very few black Brazilian ballet dancers to idolize. Silva's passion for increased Afro Brazilian visibility in ballet, combined with her mother's unwavering support, inspired Silva to be her own role model at a young age.

By the young age of 17, Silva was an apprentice at Grupo Corpo, one of the most prestigious dance companies in Brazil. And in 2017, she was accepted into the Dance Theater of Harlem Summer Intensive Program in New York on a full scholarship. The following year, she joined the company's community engagement project, Dancing Through Barriers. In 2013, Silva joined the company full time, where she remains today. She felt affirmed by the Dance Theater of Harlem's celebration of African American culture through performance, community engagement, and arts education programs. Silva has held principal and soloist roles for renowned choreographers, including Arthur Mitchell, Donald Bird, Francesca Harper, and many others.

Speaking with Silva at her home in New York, it was a delight to be able to hear her own perspective on this incredible personal journey and how it has intersected with pregnancy and motherhood. We know that you all will really appreciate this conversation today.

Follow Ingrid's journey at:

• @IngridSilva
• http://www.ingridsilvaballet.com/

And discover her recent book A bailarina que pintava suas sapatilhas (currently available in Portuguese, and English soon!) here: http://www.ingridsilvaballet.com/booklivro

Please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and give us a rating. This will help us reach more listeners like you who are navigating the joys and pitfalls of artistic and parenting identities.

Visit our website: postpartumproduction.com

Follow us on Instagram: @postpartumproductionpodcast

Subscribe to our podcast newsletter on Substack: https://postpartumproduction.substack.com