Elize Harrylal feels much more like herself when she performs a dance number now.

That’s because the 13-year-old Barrie Dance Conservatory student can don attire that matches her skin tone.

It all started while watching a video playback of herself doing a lyrical dance two years ago, as she had to wear light-coloured shoes.

Harrylal noticed her feet were sticking out like a sore thumb.

“When you listen to a song in dance, you kind of connect with it. But the uniform I was wearing didn’t really make me feel like it was mine,” she said. “It felt like I was trying to fit into someone else’s skin.

“For a while, I didn’t really pay attention to it, because I’ve been dancing in pink stockings and shoes for so long. As I started to grow, I realized it.”

So she went to a dance store to inquire if there were other options, and learned there are several shades of skin-toned shoes and stockings to match her colouring.

Harrylal then approached her dance instructor, to see if she could veer away from the traditional pink uniform.

“A lot of people were surprised I had the confidence to ask,” Harrylal said.

“I opened up the book and saw they did come in different shades,” Barrie Dance Conservatory owner Jolenne Bradley said. “I had never thought of offering that.”

Now others are following in Harrylal’s footsteps.

“When I wore pink, I never really felt like myself, I never felt included,” 11-year-old Mya Hall said. “When I’m on stage, you see black arms and black face, a black body suit and white (tights) and white shoes. It was weird how I’m Black, but I’m trying to fit into white.”

She was so excited when she found shoes and tights to match her skin colour.

Both of the girls’ mothers agree their stage presence and confidence level has changed.

Bradley said conversations are also happening about hairstyles and makeup to suit every dancers.

“My hope is for our country to be more open and inclusive of all races, just a little bit more, so girls won’t be afraid to be themselves,” Harrylal said.