00:01Meet Leroy Mogake, an award-winning dancer
00:04challenging the conventions of ballet.
00:07As a trailblazing artist, Leroy, who prefers the pronoun she,
00:11now performs classical female roles on point.
00:16I was always interested in the more feminine side
00:19and I felt like it came much more easier
00:20rather than me having to be like masculine, passing
00:25and like try to be, I don't know, something that I'm not.
00:31Backstage at Berlin's Staatsballett just moments
00:35before her performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream,
00:38she remains poised, brushing off stage fright.
00:43Leroy Mogake shines as an energetic puck in her acclaimed performance
00:48in A Midsummer Night's Dream.
00:51Her presence in the role is a testament to how classical ballet is evolving.
00:58She's a gifted artist who truly inspires so many others, myself included, every day.
01:06She teaches me to think outside of the box.
01:09To think outside of the box.
01:13But the road to where Leroy is now was a long one.
01:19I didn't also want to rush into without earning either the respect or gaining the confidence in myself
01:28to go out there in certain roles.
01:30So yeah, I'm very happy that it was kind of like a slow progression.
01:37On stage, she captivates audiences as a charismatic soloist.
01:43So far, the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
01:51It's 10 a.m. and it's time for class.
01:55Born in South Africa, Leroy was assigned male at birth
01:59and fell in love with classical ballet at an early age.
02:03Despite the prejudice she experienced, Leroy continued pursuing her passion.
02:08I don't think I gave them the space to actually criticize and say and have an opinion on it.
02:14Leroy made her way to the major ballet companies of Europe, where she launched an international career.
02:22After working in Lausanne and Zurich, she accompanied Staatsballett artistic director Christian Spock to Berlin.
02:31Christian, I would say he's kind of like my savior.
02:35I mean, he's like the one person that I, at the time, felt very comfortable to approach.
02:43I don't want Leroy to be put on display.
02:46I want Leroy to be recognized as an artist. That's what's important.
02:52Leroy has also become a prominent voice for the trans community in the world of ballet.
02:59Dancing in a tutu is nothing unusual for her and her female co-performers.
03:05But what vision do her colleagues hold for the future of ballet?
03:09General inclusion and realizing what people have to bring to the table beyond the physical body that they have been
03:20given.
03:21Whether that's skin color, whether that's gender, how to make them comfortable and how to make them feel welcome.
03:28Today, Leroy Mokake lives in Berlin. She left her homeland of South Africa many years ago. But does she ever
03:36miss it?
03:37Actually trying to do like a project or like perform back home. Also for the audience back there just to
03:44like reconnect again.
03:47But she's found a new home in Berlin, both at the company and in the city itself.
03:56For the trans and non-binary community, I think it's best for me to be here and I feel very
04:01welcomed. And honestly, to be honest, I'm not planning on moving anytime soon.
04:09Leroy has found her place in Berlin and within herself too. Despite all the obstacles, she now wants to be
04:17seen simply for who she is, a dedicated artist.
04:21I would really like to get more involved in becoming like an activist. Just creating more awareness and like, like
04:32making space for like conversation, especially in the artistic world, as a person of color and also as a trans
04:39woman.
04:40By living her dream, Leroy Mokake is opening doors for others too. And not just in the world of ballet.
04:48By living her dream, Leroy Mokake dess.
04:50By living her dream, Leroy Mokake will remain at home at 310шm times inŒуй.
04:51By living here is parents and daughters of Dr.esson at the complexion center of unfolding happening in thexxx plays
04:51in French and she is greatly associated with unnatural ledge and it's awesome.
04:51In french zum 1, we'll see the other children coming fromcenium in the bud.
04:51Mac font 1, we'll see themselves.
04:51Umbance, and in other statesarella here, the Vietnam staff.
04:52And we'll see you next time.
04:52Oh yeah.
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