AIBU to think that ballet is extremely sexist

[Clossaintjacques]

and that some of the practices would not be acceptable in any other industry.

The facts are

Women in ballet are meant to maintain figures that resemble prepubescent girls and this has become more prevalent over the last 50 years with ballet dancers getting thinner and less womanly.

But the main point is that there are far more girls competing to get into the industry but male choreographers massively outweigh female ones.

AIBU to think that this industry (art form) should not be partly funded by the tax payer unless it changes some of it's sexist practices.

YABU if only for your ludicrous statement that thin dancers are less womanly

And what do you propose doing about it?

What about acting? It is much the same.

I thought you were going to say sexist as men don't get to go en pointe ( me and dh were just having an argument about that - he said they did, I said only to make a point, please say i'm right...)

YABU... Ballet-dancing men aren't exactly porkers either. Good ballet dancers (all genders) have to be very strong, athletic and have huge stamina which rather excludes anyone starving themselves to death in the way some wannabe models or film-stars might. If a man or woman thinks the way to get on in the ballet industry is to be a feeble waid, they're not going to do very well.

But the main point is that there are far more girls competing to get into the industry but male choreographers massively outweigh female ones

Do you know enough about it to claim sexism though?

I mean, do you know how many trained and talented female choreographers are turned down for jobs in favour of men?

Otherwise, I can't see where the sexism comes in.

waif :)

Put men in points and women in cod-pieces!

sorry.

I haven't noticed ballet dancers getting thinner.

The choreographer point is fair enough, but the same happens in many professions - primary school teaching being a glaring example. It all needs dealing with.

Perhaps they should stop selecting dancers on the basis of their ability to dance, as well, in case it discriminates against dyspraxic people.

One top choreographer recently stated that he didn't like British dancers because they were too titty and bummy, which they obviously aren't, and it just struck me as really sexist.

" the startling fact is that almost all of the choreographers and artistic directors, past and present, are male. It does seem that ballerinas may be seen, but not heard. Is there an inherent sexism in the art of ballet that still prevents women from stepping - rather than tiptoeing as it were - into the 21st century and taking the lead alongside men?"

farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/4934717720_5240718010.jp

Leading ballerina 1940's I think.......hardly the shape of today's dancers?

Oh link didn't work sorry.

I guess I am being unreasonable then from the comments so far.

I suspect the legions of little girls practicing ballet is the reason why there is more competition for female ballerinas. I am also not clear who in the ballet biz wants titless/bumless wonders and why. Also dunno about choreography, I can't think why it would be more sexist inherently.

(not saying its isn't, I just don't understand the why).

Is it funded by the tax payer or lottery money?.

YABU for ludicrously overthinking stuff. Not every single bloody thing in the world has to be sexist or any other kind of ist you know.

I understand why there are more girls competing than boys but my question is why then are there far far more male choreographers than female?

This link is about Russia but it gives you na incite into the weight issue.

www.guardian.co.uk/stage/theatreblog/2008/may/05/russianballetweight

1945

2008

sorry it took so long to post these, i got lost in wonderment at how fabulous a prima ballerina looks

I will bow out now because I am obviously being unreasonable.

I understand why there are more girls competing than boys but my question is why then are there far far more male choreographers than female?

I had a number of friends doing drama etc at Uni, nearly without exception all the girls wanted to act, the men were often more the ones into producing stuff, camerawork, lighting, writing etc. Maybe that is true in ballet too?

Well not exactly unreasonabe but its Ballet. It is sexist and racist and cruel and damaging on so many levels.

Nothing new.

The way they train and dance makes their feet explode ffs.

Its art though innit.

DBIL is a professional ballet dancer, as is his wife. They are both extremely strong and eat more than you'd ever think possible. SIL is slim/lithe/willowy etc but she's not underweight. She's bloody remarkable.

But but but, bil has been a ballet dancer since he was 14 and dear God are there problems with eating disorders. Not just the girls though. I've helped out at countless performances, sewn costumes etc back when he was in local productions and the eating habits, snide comments and competitive weight loss was deeply upsetting. This is nothing to do with sexism I realise but bil and sil both confirm that while they know to be a successful and healthy dancer you need to eat well and look after yourself, the majority seem fixated on weight.

DD has asked to do ballet lessons (alongside karate ) and I'm umming and aahing about it tbh.

Ballet dancers and thin because they are exceptionally fit and strong, in much the way a long distance runner is thin. It has nothing to do with emulating the look of a prepubescent child.

DD has asked to do ballet lessons (alongside karate grin) and I'm umming and aahing about it tbh

Float like a butterfly, kick like a horse :D

The second shot of the ballerina is beautiful.

She looks strong and graceful not underweight.

There isn't one boy in DDs class of 12. Her school teaches about 220 pupils a week of which the owner says 10 are boys plus about 6 over 16s! That's despite the owner of the ballet school going out into local schools trying to encourage boys to join. She takes some of her best senior boys with her and they talk about their experiences and dance and they are superb. Most of them do boxing or rugby or other sports as well. She offers boys only classes which are never taken up. She is tearing her hair out trying to get boys to take up ballet but they just won't because its seen as a girls activity - no wonder there is so much pressure on the women later on, the boys are desperately needed to take parts and have comparatively little competition whereas the girls are flocking in.