African American ballerina, Misty Copeland has criticised Russia's Bolshoi Theatre after they continue to use blackface.
Copeland is a world-famous ballet dancer and was the first African American woman in 2015 to be promoted to principal dancer in American Ballet Theatre's 75-year history.
She posted an image on Instagram of two white female ballerina's in full-body blackface.
The pair appear to be posing for a picture in a rehearsal of La Bayadère.
"This is the reality of the ballet world," Copeland captioned the post.
She said blackface is a "VERY sensitive subject".
"But until we can call people out and make people uncomfortable, change can't happen," she wrote on Twitter.
The ballerina's post has since gained mixed reactions.
One woman said "I don't see why this has to be offensive!! I'm sure it wasn't meant to be taken like that. Seems like everyone has something to be offended over these days."
Another replied "this is so so so wrong and this doesn’t make it okay but keep in mind the girls dressed like this should know better but they don’t.
Bolshoi Theatre Director Vladimir Urin, told Russia's RIA Novosti news agency, the theatre will not be involved.
"The ballet La Bayadère has been performed thousands of times in this production in Russia and abroad, and the Bolshoi Theatre will not get involved in such a discussion."
La Bayadère is a ballet performance set in the Royal India of the past. It is a love story about about a temple dancer and a warrior. Problems arise after the temple dancer Nikiya, rejects the High Brahmin after he declares his love for her.
The Russian dancer who uploaded the picture has since deleted her Instagram account.
