Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

Boys doing ballet

37 replies

Eileen101 · 28/10/2021 12:53

I know I'm not being unreasonable, but just looking for some solidarity.

My DS does ballet, he's only young and in the early stages but really enjoys it.

I'm getting arsey comments about how he won't suit a tutu Hmm

Anyone else get this? Do you just have to let it go over your head?

Did your boys ever take these comments on board? Did it stop them from enjoying dance? I do wonder if when he's old enough to take it in, it would affect him. I'd like to bring my children up where they don't care what people think, but I'm not sure that's doable until they're older.

Thoughts welcome.

OP posts:
Daisy62 · 03/11/2021 17:17

My son did ballet until he was about 12. He gave it up because his heart was in football and he wanted to be free for matches. He was good at ballet, his friends knew and I don’t remember any hurtful comments - he was pretty confident about it though, there were other boys in the dance school, and we went to professional performances where he could see that men do ballet too. If someone make a comment, try just saying “why do you think that?” and let them reveal the extent of their ignorance - which you can then correct.

GreyhoundG1rl · 03/11/2021 17:19

Some male dancers might wear a tutu, others won't
Male dancers don't wear tutus, it's just an idiotic jibe.

Morgantowers · 03/11/2021 17:23

Tell them you have him training to play Rugby for his country. Then point them in the direction of the Welsh National Rugby Team who do ballet as part of their training.

SinoohXaenaHide · 03/11/2021 17:34

My son did ballet from age 3 to 5.5ish. He was one of only 2 boys in the class and he really did enjoy it. We had no jibes about it from adults as far as I was aware. The bullying came from the girls who were in both the ballet class and in his year at school who mounted an ongoing campaign to tell him that ballet is supposed to be for girls and he was not welcome (the other boy went to a different school so they didn't get a chance to hassle him about it). It was horrible and the girls in question were told they were being unfair once we adults (parents and teachers united) found out what had been happening but the damage was done and DS refused to go back.

GreyhoundG1rl · 03/11/2021 17:45

@SinoohXaenaHide

My son did ballet from age 3 to 5.5ish. He was one of only 2 boys in the class and he really did enjoy it. We had no jibes about it from adults as far as I was aware. The bullying came from the girls who were in both the ballet class and in his year at school who mounted an ongoing campaign to tell him that ballet is supposed to be for girls and he was not welcome (the other boy went to a different school so they didn't get a chance to hassle him about it). It was horrible and the girls in question were told they were being unfair once we adults (parents and teachers united) found out what had been happening but the damage was done and DS refused to go back.
God, that's awful. I'm surprised at all the negative experiences, actually. My ds's weren't into dance, but at all of the dance schools my dd went to the boys were in high demand as partners (and got all the good parts in the shows!).
Silenceisgolden20 · 03/11/2021 17:54

My son did tap them stopped in year 2 due to comments.
He took up street dance and is still doing that now (age 13). He's suddenly become the only boy in the class though but he seems to love dancing and hasn't mentioned it at all, so I don't know if it bothers him.
There are a handful of boys in his dance school but these days it seems to be primary age ones. The older ones have now moved on, grown up (adults).
Shame really as dance is for all.

Silenceisgolden20 · 03/11/2021 17:57

Maybe take him to some dance shows and performances to give him male role models. You have to be extremely fit to do ballet, it's very hard! I wish people wouldn't be so ignorant and see that.

jellybe · 03/11/2021 18:15

My DS2 does it and loves it. We haven't had any stupid comments though, who are the idiots making comments like that?

MondayYogurt · 03/11/2021 20:22

Even Tom Holland was bullied for dancing people.com/movies/spider-man-homecoming-tom-holland-talks-being-bullied/

honkytonkheroe · 04/11/2021 22:22

My DS10 dances. He does every dance class his dance school does and loves it. He dances in festivals and is a brilliant tapper especially. He is about to do grade 4 exams in ballet, modern and tap. He has got loads of confidence and has rarely had anything negative said to him. He also plays football and if anyone says anything it is football playing boys and he replies saying how ballet is good training for footballers.. He hasn't started secondary school yet though and is at primary with the same kids since he was 4 who seem him as the dancer and accept it. He especially loves tap as it is very fast and he amazes me how fast his feet go.

lunar1 · 15/11/2021 16:55

My teenage DS has a a dancer, he stopped ballet when covid started but kept up street dance and contemporary. He has over 8k in the bank from paid dance and modelling work, he also has muscles like the picture another poster put up.

Dance is fantastic for all children. Ignore the idiots.

lunar1 · 15/11/2021 16:56

Is a dancer, not has!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page