Aesha Ash es una ex bailarina profesional de ballet estadounidense que pasó por algunos de los más selectos escenarios durante los años que estuvo activa en esta práctica.

El New York City Ballet, el Bejart de Suiza y el Alonzo King’s Lines de San Francisco son solo tres de los recintos de los cuales formó parte.

Pero los inicios de Ash en Rochester (Nueva York) fueron muy diferentes al glamour de estos lugares, donde la artista que está retirada desde 2008 vio cómo la figura de la mujer, en fotografías de revistas y en la publicidad; enviaban mensajes erróneos, especialmente para las niñas afro descendientes como ella.

Por ello fundó The Swan Dreams Project, una organización sin fines de lucro que busca usar imágenes para derribar estereotipos e inspirar tanto a las mujeres de color como a aquellas comunidades desfavorecidas.

“A través del uso de las fotografías y mi carrera como bailarina de ballet, quiero ayudar a cambiar la imagen caricaturizada, objetivizada y demoralizada de las mujeres afro estadounidenses mostrándole al mundo que la belleza no es de ninguna raza o grupo socio económico en particular”, dijo Ash.

“Exponiendo el ballet a más comunidades afro estadounidenses, también espero promover una mayor participación y aumentar el patrocinio para esta hermosa forma de arte”, añadió.

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This February The Swan Dreams Project will host Black History month for elementary school children! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When I found out that my children’s school was not recognizing Black History Month, and that most of the classrooms didn’t even mention it, I just knew I had to do something! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Having been invited to speak at another suburban school, who had speakers and events throughout the entire month, I was saddened to learn that our school did absolutely nothing. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thanks to your generous support of the project, I will be able to invite speakers and gift each classroom with a special item to share with their classrooms. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Like the ballerinas that have been breaking the mold for decades and only recently getting attention, many other men and women of color are in fields where they are leaving their mark and making great contributions. . 🌸I will fill you all in on more as the time approaches. . 🙏🏾Thank you all for helping me to make this possible! . . . . . . . #blackhistorymonth #blackballerina #knowyourhistory #representationmatters #diversitymatters #eachoneteachone #theswandreamsproject #aeshaash #kidsmatter

Una publicación compartida por The Swan Dreams Project (@theswandreamsproject) el

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Preparing to talk next week with a young student I’ve worked with who I am told is struggling with feeling out of place in dance class. . I thought I would share my journey and these photos with her to let her know that being the only girl of color during my career wasn’t always easy. There was a lot of struggle behind the achievements and awards. . There weren’t all the wonderful organizations that exist today to lift up people of color in the ballet world. I often struggled, and sometimes in silence. Just burying my head and doing the work…work I wanted to succeed in, not for myself, but for all of my community. . I pray I am able to inspire her to lift up her head and let that unique and beautiful light shine!✨💜✨ . . 📷 @raymondmeeks @richgunz11 Good News Photography, Paul Kolnik and Thaler Photography . . . . . #inspireothers #liftupothers #kidsarethefuture #diversitymatters #kindnessmatters #believeinyourself #havefaith #youareworthit #youaremorethanenough #blackballerina #representationmatters #artsaveslives #aeshaash #theswandreamsproject

Una publicación compartida por The Swan Dreams Project (@theswandreamsproject) el