On a Sunday at Eleven
Directed by Alicia K. Harris
Produced by Jeff Chiu & Hayley Brown
Canada | English | 9' | Drama
A young Black ballerina performs her Sunday rituals, while facing the pressures to conform to Eurocentric beauty standards.
A young black ballerina feels “othered” in a ballet class full of white students with smooth hair. But then something happens. She imagines a world in which her beauty is the occasion for celebration. I’ve seen versions of this story before but never with such impeccable craft and emotional impact. The messaging is nuanced. The visuals are mindblowing. Gorgeous costuming, commanding production design, and sweeping cinematography all contribute to the celebration of black culture and a young black ballerina. The world is specific, but the takeaway is universal. Dance belongs to everyone. Joy belongs to everyone.
-Erin Brown Thomas, Artistic Director