Black Royal Ballet soloist Eric Underwood often has to spend half an hour adding ‘pancake’ to his ballet shoes to make them flesh coloured. Is the lack of properly designed ballet shoes holding the artform back, asks Kirstie Brewer.
Ballet dancer Eric Underwood was on tour last summer in the south of Italy when he had finally had enough.
He's black, and as a soloist for the Royal Ballet often needs to wear flesh-coloured shoes for his performances. But walk into a ballet store and the only options are beiges and pinks. There is usually nothing for non-white ballet dancers.
"Instead I have to 'pancake' my shoes... Keep reading on BBC
Ballet dancer Eric Underwood was on tour last summer in the south of Italy when he had finally had enough.
He's black, and as a soloist for the Royal Ballet often needs to wear flesh-coloured shoes for his performances. But walk into a ballet store and the only options are beiges and pinks. There is usually nothing for non-white ballet dancers.
"Instead I have to 'pancake' my shoes... Keep reading on BBC