The Female Gaze in Ballet: Reclaiming the Narrative

For centuries, ballet was told through the male gaze. Women were muses, objects of beauty, vessels for someone else’s story. Even now, much of ballet perpetuates this dynamic, where women are seen but not heard.

But what happens when women become the storytellers? When the female gaze shapes the work, ballet shifts. It becomes not just a display of beauty, but an exploration of identity, power, and purpose.

Inspired by Maya Angelou’s compelling poem

“The caged bird sings of freedom”

This shift is central to works like The Caged Bird Sings. Inspired by Maya Angelou’s poem and created entirely by Black and Latina women, it reclaims the narrative, showcasing resilience and freedom. The female gaze transforms traditional narratives, asking harder questions and embracing truths that are often messy but deeply human.

This perspective matters for everyone, not just women. When stories are shaped by diverse voices, they become richer and more nuanced. Men, too, benefit from the female gaze, as it expands understanding and challenges stereotypes. The Caged Bird Sings speaks to universal themes: hope, courage, and the fight for freedom.

Ballet must embrace the female gaze if it hopes to stay relevant. Art must reflect the diversity of the world it inhabits. Stories matter, but who tells them matters even more.