Most of us have been there. Forming an interest, even a passion, for something just to begin it and find that, as it is, it does not have the same fondness for you that you do for it. I’ve said before, that as a kid, I wanted to have hair like Barbie’s. That came with the wish to be a princess and yes, a ballerina. And even though I grew up in a geographical location where I would not be considered an ethnic minority, all of those dreams in the way that I conceived them involved changing my appearance in some way.
Alicia K. Harris’ short film, On a Sunday at Eleven follows a young ballerina finding it hard to fit in with the rest of her group as she is the only one of them who looks different. When discouragement creeps in, she is transported to a place where she is surrounded by other, older, black ballerinas who dance ballet in a way that reflects their own identity; and then, by even older women in their traditional attires, who build up our main character so that she knows she is beautiful, talented, and can pursue her dreams just as she is.
And, she comes from a line of talented women who have done the same.
A lot of us had to go through that sort of rediscovery of self. The initial hurt of being told in more ways than one “you don’t belong here” usually initiates a search of spaces where we do belong or of avenues where we can preserve and showcase our identities. Where we can be proud of our families and heritages instead of hiding away in shame, and where we can invite other people to do the same. That was a pride that I had to search for in my adulthood, and one I hope people continue to find earlier and earlier in their lives.
On a Sunday at Eleven is playing at TIFF ’24. For more information, click here.
