Interview with En L’air. Armando Braswell Art Centre

What is inclusive about Ballet with Heart?

“Ballet with Heart was written because my son who loves ballet, looked through the pages of a number of ballet books and asked me “mummy where is me?”

At the time I had done my best to curate picture books with brown ballerinas for my daughter and even that was hard, trying to find some with a little brown boy was nearly impossible.

With the book I wanted to put both the brother and sister front and center as too often we see children with brown skin in supporting roles. I wanted to show close parenting, parents with different body shapes, different afro hair , tall children, rounder children, children who are differently able. I wanted to include children who were shy and hesitant but also those who are simply passionate and jump in at moments notice.

Ballet with Heart is multilayered with inclusion in the story itself and the brilliant illustrations by Sawyer Cloud, yet it remains a simple story about starting dance class and performing at the christmas show."