Nayara Lopes Alleges Whiteface Incident at Finnish National Ballet

Nayara Lopes, a Brazilian dancer, has been appointed as a first soloist with the Finnish National Ballet for the 2025–26 season, following a four-year tenure as a principal dancer at Philadelphia Ballet. While preparing for her role as Cupid in Don Quixote in February 2026, Lopes was taken aback when a makeup artist applied white makeup to her face. Artistic director Javier Torres specified that Lopes should appear 'pale, not white,' prompting Lopes to seek confirmation that her skin would remain unaltered. After sharing her experience at a company meeting, she received applause. Although Torres apologized, he later dismissed the incident. Lopes subsequently took medical leave, missing the Cupid performance, and has returned to Philadelphia Ballet this season. This event underscores the persistent issue of skin-whitening in ballet.