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NAYARA LOPES 🤎

@nayaramlopes

34.4K

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1763

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🇧🇷Principal dancer @philadelphiaballet
@blochdanceusa Influencer
Former 1st Soloist @oopperabaletti
@dancetheatreofharlem @nationalballet @abtschool

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Thank you, @dancemagazine for giving me the space to share my story. I’m truly grateful for this feature and for the care with which my experience has been shared.

I’ll be sharing more of my thoughts tomorrow, but today I am simply overwhelmed by the support and messages I’ve received. Every message has meant more to me than I can express. I don’t take any of it lightly, and I truly hope that by speaking openly, we can help create meaningful change. 🤎

The link to the article is in my bio.

—

Years ago, when Brazilian dancer @nayaramlopes was preparing for her first international ballet competition, her teacher instructed her to lighten her skin to increase her chances of winning an award. The message that her dark skin was a disadvantage to be hidden left a psychological scar, along with a determination not to accept something like that again.

Earlier this year, Lopes was shocked to find herself in a similar situation. After four years as a principal dancer with Philadelphia Ballet, she joined Finnish National Ballet as a first soloist for the 2025–26 season. In late February 2026, when preparing to dance the role of Cupid in “Don Quixote,” she went to a company makeup artist as usual before dress rehearsal.

She noticed white makeup being applied to her face. “I was like, ‘What is happening?’ It wasn’t normal makeup,” she tells @dancemagazine. “I’m a Black dancer. You don’t do that. It felt like they were changing my race.”

Continue reading at the link in my bio!

📝: @avidotcom
📸: Nayara Lopes. Photo by @cdugganphoto, courtesy Lopes. by @nayaramlopes

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a month ago

Friday 💥 feels

@nunes.art ♥️ @blochdanceusa by @nayaramlopes

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3 years ago

Nutcracker Pas de Deux by @nunes.art ❤️‍🔥 with @shalewagman ♥️
So lucky to be apart of this process in @orsolina28
#grateful #itstheseason #nutcracker #tchaikovsky #love by @nayaramlopes

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4 years ago

Continuing to celebrate Latinx Heritage Month with Bloch Professional @nayaramlopes , Brazilian Principal Ballerina at Philadelphia Ballet. ❤️

We’re honored to support her journey and celebrate all that she brings to the dance community.

Keep an eye on our Stories as we spotlight more of our Latinx Bloch family throughout the month. ✨

#Bloch #LatinxHeritageMonth by @nayaramlopes

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19 days ago

A little recap of this month.

With some of my favorite people, enjoying the little moments that make me smile. Dancing, working, and slowly readjusting to a life that feels like home again. 🍃

@telmo_gomes_moreira ♥️

Just a little warm-up to Kitri, Act I. 💃🏾

#notthebestangle #tworehearsals #butveryfun

@blochdanceusa 🤎

My bestie @adji_cissoko 💕

Rehearsals for the community @philadelphiaballet #suchjoy

we do it all 🦾 😂

@wolf_trap

@mistyonpointe ✨

Kiwi 🤍

So cute.

Fancy Free - Jerome Robbins

@giovannaassisg Linda!

A little pre-show curl education! Learning what works and what doesn’t.

It’s not about having all the answers, it’s about being open to finding better ones, together.

🙏🏾

Who Cares? George Balanchine

Our favorite place ♥️ by @nayaramlopes

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19 days ago

Sometimes, before we can welcome what’s next, we have to release what has been weighing us down.
A little reset, a little more space to breathe, and room for something new to find us. 🤎

Carmen @philadelphiaballet by @nayaramlopes

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a month ago

Here is my essay my experience, in my own words.

🔗My Substack Essay link is in my bio🔗

Share it, repost it, talk about it, and help keep this important conversation moving forward.

To everyone who has reached out privately, thank you. I am still making my way through your messages, and I will respond to each one. In such a short time, I have heard from dancers who have carried painful experiences quietly for years, and from others who are now finding the courage to speak.

That alone tells me how necessary this conversation is.

Too many dancers have endured harmful experiences in silence, some even leaving careers they deeply loved because of them. These stories deserve to be heard, and practices that cause harm should never be protected simply because they are considered tradition.

We love this art form. Wanting it to evolve comes from wanting it to be better: a place where artistry and excellence can exist alongside dignity, understanding, and humanity.

Keep the conversation moving forward. Every story heard makes silence a little harder to maintain.

Thank you for listening and for standing with me. Again, your support means more than I can express. 🤎 by @nayaramlopes

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a month ago

Back at work.

🍃🦾💛

@philadelphiaballet by @nayaramlopes

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2 months ago

Thank you @jorgee_garciiaa_ for bringing me along for this one. 💛

So much fun elevating GOM Athleisure in our own way.

@gomathleisure 🐻✨ by @nayaramlopes

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2 months ago

Happy birthday love, @austineyler_ 💕

I’m so lucky to celebrate you, not just today, but every single day.

You truly are one of a kind. 🍀

I love you. by @nayaramlopes

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2 months ago

It’s a constant search.

The longer you dance, the more you realize that every opportunity offers a deeper understanding of the work.

I can’t wait to be back in the studio, continuing that search.

Any place that nurtures your growth as an artist is a beautiful place to be. 🤎

@philadelphiaballet ♥️

——

É uma busca constante.

Quanto mais você dança, mais percebe que cada oportunidade oferece uma compreensão mais profunda do trabalho.

Mal posso esperar para voltar ao estúdio e continuar essa busca.

Qualquer lugar que incentive o seu crescimento como artista é o seu lugar 🤎 by @nayaramlopes

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2 months ago