In Finland, dancer says there was an attempt to lighten her skin for a role
Brazilian ballet dancer Nayara Lopes said that during rehearsals for the ballet “Don Quixote” at the Finnish National Ballet, there was an attempt to lighten her skin with makeup. In her view, this was intended to change her skin color and conceal her ethnicity, YLE News reports.
The dancer’s position
Lopes worked with the Finnish National Ballet company during the 2025–2026 season. In February, she was rehearsing the role of Cupid, the angel of love, for the production of “Don Quixote.” According to the dancer, she did not agree to have her skin lightened with makeup.
In an interview with Dance Magazine, Lopes also said that she did not feel entirely comfortable in the company because she was the only Black female dancer in the troupe. One Black male dancer also works with the ballet.
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The ballet director’s explanation
Javier Torres, the artistic director of the Finnish National Ballet, denied that the makeup was intended to conceal Lopes’ ethnicity. According to him, the idea was to give her skin a paler appearance, but during the rehearsal, makeup usually used to make white dancers’ skin paler was applied.
Torres acknowledged that this was his mistake because he had not checked whether suitable makeup was available. The following day, he discussed the situation with the makeup artist. The director also acknowledged that he expressed himself poorly in a conversation heard by Lopes and apologized to her in front of other members of the troupe.
According to Torres, pale makeup is used in ballet for portrayals of ill or supernatural characters, as well as to emphasize a character’s dreamlike nature. Lopes ultimately did not perform the role of Cupid because she went on sick leave. She no longer works at the Finnish National Ballet.
