Inclusive ballet school in spotlight for Black History 365

As a little girl, Ruth Essel loved to dance. Every spare moment was spent learning ballet moves and dreaming of the stage.

But it was a bittersweet journey for the young dancer, as “experiences of discrimination, microaggressions and overt racism” chipped at her dream.

Determined no dancer should ever feel excluded, lifelong Wandsworth resident Ruth founded an inclusive ballet school where “anyone from the community could come into a safe space as themselves, with no restrictions on size or age”.

Battersea-based Pointe Black ballet school has grown dramatically since its launch in 2021, and its dancers are set to perform an immersive stage show delving into the Windrush story in October and November.

Watch Pointe Black founder Ruth Essel

“The story is about celebrating the monumental achievements of our predecessors as we take on the characters of all the aunties, parents and grandparents who came from Caribbean countries to the UK after the Second World War,” explains Ruth, who has written and produced the show that will run at Southfields Academy on 26 October and 2 November.

“It’s so important we bring context and expression to the movements, as dance comes from a feeling, not from being statues at a studio barre.”

Our Windrush Story

Pointe Black’s dance showcase titled Our Windrush Story is one of Wandsworth Council’s Cultural Commissions for this year, celebrating incredible creative projects through the Black History 365 programme.

Each of the eight commissions has been given cash backing by the council to develop and deliver their ideas, with the projects set to launch over the coming year.

For Ruth – whose ballet school attracts dancers from across Wandsworth and as far afield as Uxbridge, Leytonstone and Caterham – developing a deeper understanding of Black culture and heritage is a crucial part of the artistic process.

With her own Jamaican and Ghanaian background, Ruth explains that “you didn’t see any forms of representation in the UK in the late 90s and early noughties”.

Fast forward to today and it is “a new world” despite the challenges that remain, she adds.

As a trained psychologist, positive affirmations and bolstering social equity are as important for Ruth as teaching traditional ballet technique.

With dancers ranging in age from 18 months to 63 years, that can take different forms.

“The older ballerinas are often living out a childhood dream, or they’ve done classes as a child or teenager and someone has told them their body isn’t quite right, so they are trying to heal their inner child,” points out Ruth.

“With the younger ballerinas, we notice they and their families are really looking for activities specifically for our community, and wanting to boost the Black pound.”

Scholarship scheme

Remembering the sacrifices her own mum Sandra made to pay for dance classes, 31-year-old Ruth runs a scholarship scheme for dancers needing support.

“That will never change,” vows Ruth, a former pupil at Graveney School in Tooting and St Cecilia’s School in Southfields.

“It started when a parent let slip she was paying for classes using her child benefit money, and I came home and just cried because I’d seen my mum do a similar thing.

“I took my own money and put it into the company to pay for her classes, but ever since then I’ve had people asking me for ways they can support the school.”

Having grown from just one pupil when Pointe Black launched in May 2021 in the aftermath of the pandemic, to more than 40 keen ballerinas today, Ruth’s dream of a more inclusive ballet school has become a reality.

Find out more about Pointe Black and book tickets for Our Windrush Story on 26 Oct and 2 Nov here.