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New Girl Crush: Afro-Brazilian Ballerina, Ingrid Silva

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10742_image_872032Photo: Omar Z. Robles 

Women are totally owning the 21st century in sports, entertainment, politics and, of course, dance. The success of Misty Copeland in becoming the first African American female principal dancer has prompted us to muse who will be next to follow in her footsteps.

In our opinion, we believe that this distinction will come from Dance Theatre of Harlem’s own genius dancer, Ingrid Silva. As the daughter of a domestic worker and a retired Air Force employee, the 26-year-old performer grew up in Rio de Janeiro’s Benfica neighborhood, which was a blue collar area not far from the city’s famed Maracanã Stadium.

Much like any young child interested in dance, Ms. Silva was eight years old when she started doing ballet. She went to classes with her brother and worked her way up to professional training by quitting swimming and other sports in order to dedicate herself to dance.

Ingrid attended ballet classes every day after school while growing up. Her accomplishments afforded her an opportunity to move to the United States. Eventually, she arrived to the country at age 19 after obtaining a full scholarship to attend the Dance Theatre of Harlem. She became a full-fledge member in 2013. With over 17 years of dance experience and much success, Ingrid never forgets her roots as a fierce and impassioned Afro-Brazilian performer.

“I come from a favela in Brazil, am black, have a poor family and yet, despite all those odds, I became a ballerina,” she said.

As one of the success stories of the famed Dançando Para Não Dançar program, Ingrid Silva also trained at the Teatro Municipal School and with Deborah Colkers company. Her talented skills, self-assured nature and mature sensibility has enabled the talent to focus solely on her path as a dancer. “I had to get by on my own [when arriving to New York]. That’s when I grew up and learned to appreciate what my parents had taught me,” she said.

Silva didn’t speak a lick of English or know anyone when she first arrived to Gotham. Now, she lives in her own place with her new puppy, and admonishes her fellow Brazilian ballerinas like Ana Botafogo and Cecília Kerche. “I’ve become my own role model. As a black dancer from a [low-income] community in Rio without my parents having the financial means I have to get me there.” Back at the Teatro Municipal school, Ingrid was one of four black dancers in her class of 25. Rio’s premiere ballet company does not have one single black female dancer, and only a handful of black male dancers.

With such a situation, Silva could take her style and grace back home to rule the stage. Saying that racism in ballet “is a shame” because “it’s for everyone,” we hope that that can eventually be moved out of the way to enable her some popular success. “I’m not here [at Dance Theatre of Harlem] because I’m poor,” she said. “I’m here because of my dancing.” Ingrid doesn’t know how many dance opportunities she’d have in Brazil since ballet doesn’t get much recognition, but if you’re interested in knowing more about Ingrid Silva — you can check out her latest and greatest on Twitter and Instagram.

On the following pages, check out some other photos of Ingrid Silva in action.

The post New Girl Crush: Afro-Brazilian Ballerina, Ingrid Silva appeared first on StyleBlazer.

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Dee-1 Calls Raheem DeVaughn To “Purify My Eyes”

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Fresh off his Breakfast Club appearance after having “Lines Drawn” with help from Billboard and successfully migrating From The Hood To Harvard, NOLA native Dee-1 taps Soul singer/songwriter Raheem DeVaughn for “Purify My Eyes.” Continuing his theme of counter-culture centered messaging the timely track, which was produced by Anonymous, urges listeners to replace images of corruption and cynicism with lifegiving content to reprogram our thinking for the better.

“This is easily one the most important songs I have ever done because it provides Hip-Hop with a solution-based perspective meant to combat some of the problems we face as a culture. It’s honest, raw, and transparent. I’ve been friends with Raheem Devaughn for a long time, so to finally collaborate on a song feels great. When I played the record for him, he fell in love with it and instantly added his parts; which took the song to another level,” say’s the David Found His Slingshot author in a exclusive statement to Medium Creative Agency.

Award-winning rapper. educator, host, activist, business owner, and keynote speaker are synonymous with Louisiana’s Dee-1. The Nasir “Nas” Jones Hip Hop Fellow at Harvard University is a Billboard Top 10 charting, game-changing MC with a persona to match his penmanship. He’s transitioned from being a middle school math teacher in The Boot to a Hip-Hop heavyweight with much more to accomplish. He has released 10 albums and 21 projects thus far in his career.

Dee-1’s music is part of a bigger lifestyle movement called Mission Vision, which centers around three core principles: Be Real. Be Righteous. Be Relevant. In 2020, Dee received the prestigious NAACP “Power of Influence Award,” highlighting his community activism and commitment to inspiring the youth. In 2021, he was nominated for an Emmy Award for his work on “The Manhattan Project,” but he lost to Michelle Obama. Later that year, Dee was appointed to the “Louisiana Council for the Success of Black Men and Boys” by Governor John Bel Edwards, making him the first rapper in Louisiana history to become a governor’s appointee.

After addressing critics and fans alike in the official music video for the Danny Beats-produced single for “Lines Drawn” and following his viral interview on Sway In The Morning centered around industry hypocrisy, Emmy-nominated educator turned entertainer Dee-1 released his latest project to date From The Hood To Harvard. The 8-track body of work includes guest features from Skyy Brooks as well as P3RK and is anchored by supporting records “Impostor Syndrome” & “Dr. Freshh.”

Stream “Purify My Eyes” on your DSP of choice below and watch Dee-1‘s interview with The Breakfast Club | HERE.

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Chelsea Pastel Releases Motivative New Single “Price Going Up”

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To celebrate “Greener” pastures, following the announcement of her joining Kid Cudi’s ‘Insano World Tour,’ Cleveland native Chelsea Pastel releases the Cassius G-produced single “Price Going Up.” Marking CP’s explosive entrance into 2024, the empowering anthem resonates with anybody pushing forward with resilience and determination. With infectious beats and powerful vocals, she asserts her presence as a rising star to watch. Setting the stage for an exciting year ahead, the brand-new track is a bold declaration of Chelsea’s unwavering commitment to excellence.

“I jumped off that porch, I’m not going back to that house and I mean just that. I’m never looking back. I took a leap of faith and where I land is where I’m staying,” says the talented triple threat in a press statement to Medium Creative Agency about her latest release.

Born and bred in Forest City, Chelsea found her passion for music early on, which led her to enroll in the Cleveland School of Arts. After graduating, Chelsea begin to make a name for herself throughout the Midwest and beyond. Her unique sonic style, catchy hooks, and lyrical prowess have earned her the title of Cleveland’s Next Up talent.

Apart from accolades, which include spotlight spots regionally on WKYC and Dirty Glove Bastard as well as national recognition on top-tier entertainment networks like BET, Chelsea is a self-taught instrumentalist who often handles her production, writing, and engineering. Her unique brand of ballads can be best classified as a fusion of Rap and Pop with a touch of Rock accented by old-school flavor.

Press play on “Price Going Up” on your DSP of choice below and watch the visual for “Greener” | HERE via Pastel Productions LLC / Vydia.

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Chill Vibes and Sultry Melodies: Exploring iazY’s Latest Release “Pink Leaf”

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Hailing from the vibrant city of Irvine, the rising artist iazY is making waves with her latest single, “Pink Leaf,” released under her own label, iazY Music Ent. This track, produced by The Real Mapa and engineered by Troy “R8dio” Johnson, introduces listeners to iazY’s signature sound—a fusion of Urban pop rock melodies.

iazY shared her motivation behind crafting “Pink Leaf,” revealing, “I just had this vision of just a chill vibe, something for my ladies.” This intention shines through in the song’s laid-back groove and sultry lyrics, creating an irresistible atmosphere that invites listeners to unwind and groove along.

What sets “Pink Leaf” apart for iazY is not only its sound but also the emotions it evokes. She explains, “I think just how the song sounds and how it makes me feel. It just puts me in that ‘have fun chill’ vibe.” With its catchy hooks and lush production, “Pink Leaf” effortlessly captures iazY’s essence as an artist, marking a milestone in her musical journey.

As iazY continues to captivate audiences with her unique blend of genres and infectious energy, fans eagerly anticipate upcoming shows and releases. To stay updated on iazY’s latest endeavors, follow her on Instagram @iazyofficial and keep an ear out for future announcements from iazY Music Ent.

Visit iazyMusic.com

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