Working in a studio covered with mirrors, dancers evaluate their bodies and abilities on an almost constant basis. So perhaps more than most, they know the challenges of self-acceptance. ‘I’m getting better at it,’ says Sophie Laplane, who has created new work ‘If At First’ for Ballet Black’s HEROES tour. ‘But growing up as a ballet dancer, where you chase a perfection that doesn’t exist and constantly try to correct your flaws, it’s tricky to shake that off when it’s ingrained in you. So in some ways creating “If At First” has been quite therapeutic for me.’

Forming part of a double-bill alongside Mthuthuzeli November’s energetic piece, ‘The Waiting Game’, Laplane’s new work was created in collaboration with the Ballet Black dancers, who she found open and receptive to exploring the themes of heroism and self-acceptance. ‘The dancers weren’t afraid to dig deep and push themselves,’ she says. ‘They were a big source of inspiration, so getting to know them and their individual personalities was really important to me. I wanted each one to have a moment where they could portray the unseen, quiet heroism that’s explored in the piece. And their encouragement towards each other was so inspiring that we created a section that illustrates that group support.’

Known for working imaginatively with costume and music, Laplane once again looked for artistic input in interesting and unusual places. The work of late American visual artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, who came to prominence in 1980s New York, fed into both the movement and costuming. ‘One of the original sources of inspiration for the piece was Basquiat’s painting “Eroica”, meaning “hero”,’ explains Laplane. ‘And although there isn’t a crown in that particular work, Basquiat often used crowns to convey a variety of meanings. So I decided to use that symbol as a thread throughout the piece, and it acts as a prop as much as a costume.’ 

A series of dance vignettes set to a diverse range of music, the piece features Beethoven’s symphony ‘Eroica’, but not as the composer intended. ‘We use it in an ironic way,’ says Laplane, ‘because “If At First” goes against the idea of the grandiose, all-conquering hero. All the tracks illustrate the diverse struggles explored in each vignette.’

Even though the piece is essentially abstract, it was important for Laplane that audiences relate to, and make an emotional connection with, what they’re seeing on stage. ‘When you look up the definition of “hero”, it says “a person who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities”. But that doesn’t feel complete to me. Does that mean you can’t be a hero if no one is there to acknowledge or see your accomplishments? So it was important for me to celebrate personal, unseen heroic acts. And what I want to convey in this piece is that everybody has their own struggles in everyday life and that through kindness, resilience, persistence and self-acceptance, you can get through it.’

Ballet Black: HEROES tours Thursday 13–Friday 28 June, Wednesday 9 October–Thursday 21 November; main picture: If At First.