Today’s guest is Ingrid Silva, the Harlem-based ballerina who was born in Rio de Janeiro, and began dancing at 8-years-old, after a neighbor fatefully told her mother about a nearby dance class.

Noted for her natural talent from the very start, Ingrid ended up dancing for the next 10 years before moving to New York at 18 after being awarded a scholarship to the Dance Theatre of Harlem’s summer program.

Despite not knowing any English when she arrived, and wrestling her own doubts and criticism, Ingrid has gone on to receive countless accolades in the dance world. This includes having her hand-painted pointe shoes exhibited at the Smithsonian. She’s also helped create a series of community-building organizations, including podHER and Blacks in Ballet.

Through motherhood, Ingrid has found newfound strength and fame—she’s gone on to create a new community—Dancers & Motherhood—alongside 3 fellow dancers, and appeared on the cover of Vogue Brasil in all of her pregnant glory—which is when we first discovered her nearly four years ago.

In today’s conversation, we talk to Ingrid about her incredible career journey, her mother’s undying belief in her, how she found pride in her Blackness after moving to the U.S., and her ultimate goal of changing the dance world—for the better.

Be sure to follow Ingrid at @ingridsilva

Today’s episode is brought to you by three mom-owned brands we love—Tubby Todd, Minted, and Ritual. See a list of their exclusive offerings for our listeners, below.

~Check out Minted.com and use code MOTHER24 for 20% off holiday cards and MOTHER15 for 15% off gifts and more through December 31, 2024.
~Visit Ritual.com/mothermag for 25% off your first month of Ritual.
~Head over to TubbyTodd.com and use code MOTHERMAG15 for 15% off your next order.

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For more on Ingrid’s inspiring career + life story, check out these great interviews:
OWN (YouTube)
Postpartum Production (podcast)
We and the Color (YouTube)
Nike (YouTube)
Brene Brown (website)

For more stories about motherhood and so much more, visit mothermag.com and follow @mothermag on Instagram.

The MOTHER Podcast is produced by Em Roberts and Ali Alquiza.