Figure 1.--Many Americam dance schools have only a handful of boys. Some are more successful at interesting boys. Some sources suggest that attitudes toward ballet in America is changing.

There are a variety of reasons why boys in America, Britain, aod other countries do not want to do ballet. Oe observer speculates that probably because little boys like to play with guns and do video games. Even if they have tendencies to want to dance and express their sensitive side, peer pressure keeps them from doing it. Girls are encouraged to do this activity not only by their peers, but also by the rest of society. Boys who enter into the arts are usually encouraged to play an instrument or sing. Male dancers have the stigma of being gay. Whether or not this is relevant is not important - the stereotype exists. It's usually not until an individual reaches the point in life that he can deal independently with his feelings, ingore everybody else, that they can do the activity. In Russia, there is not the same social stigma attached to the activity, it is treated just like any other athletic activity and is encouraged. Many professional male athletes (ie wrestlers and football players) find the regimine and structure of formal ballet helps to improve their athletic skills.

HBC has noted the following comments by boys and girls doing ballet.

Boys' Comments

I'm 14, been dancing for 10 yrs now, and i'm a guy. yeah, I know it is pretty odd why guys/boys don't like ballet, or whatever. I've been taking ballet for 5 yrs now and it's not my fave thing, but it's pretty kewl. I think it is a society thing, and guys are 'scared' of it. All I use to hear, was that dance/ballet is a girls thing, your gay if you dance or do ballet, stuff like that. So we (ppl in general) I think have scared male dancers away from it. The dance community is a very forgiving one, obviously, unfortunately it in one way has became a safe haven for gay dancers. Which is totally fine, I don't gay or not, just as long as ya love to dance, just as long as 'you' don't try to hit on me if you are gay. But back to the point... It's totally a society thing in my personal opinion. We just have to broaden the horizons of our kids and show them that dancing is ok, for gals and guys, and that it shouldn't be somethign shunned upon. (lol, My parents think it's great that I've danced for so long, I'm usually the only guy in class, and I get to be in a room full of girls in leotards and tights, lol) So there ya go, my opinion on the whole thing. -- Kil

I'm a 15 y/o male, who also does dance, ballet included. And i've done pas de deux, it's fun, but i'll be honest, ballet is not my fave form. And, do you not live in LA? If you live in LA, you've got the advantage of some very good schools within a small area, so you do have an advantage there my friend, for a lot of us, we dont' have that luxary. I'm fortunate that I have a good studio that has some very good teachers. But it's kewl to see another guy that dances.

Girls' Comments

I agree! I go to a very small studio, in a small town with only about 150 students. I'm guessing we have about 15 male dancers. One of them is my brother, he's 21, and also has ADD, but since he found dance, (5 years ago), he's found a great way to get his energy out. He's absolutely marvelous in tap shoes. Gene Kelly, slide over! He also does Jazz and Ballet, but feels very self-concious doing it. He moves great, I've seen him at home, but when he's in front of other people, he clams up. Especially in Ballet. He doesn't want most people to know that he does it. -- Dana

I'm glad there are male dancers out there!! In the Nutcracker here, the party boys are around 7 or 8, and the party girls are about 15! So many of the boys seem to quit after a while. I think that when a guy does ballet, it shows he is confident, and not scared to face society. Thanks boy dancers! As a girl, I don't see why more boys don't take ballet. It's a very manly thing, and all male dancers have no problem with women. Is there anything I can do to start encouraging boys to dance? -- Firebird

I too go to a very small studio. We have NO guys in our school! At one point, last year, we did have a guy, and he was about 13, but I think that his friends began to tease him, so he just quit. When we do the Nutcracker, the guy parts are played by girls. In fact, I am an adult woman guest at the party, and my best friend is my 'man'. I hope that if any of u know any boys that seem SLIGTHLY interestd in ballet, or and type of dance, bring him to one of your classes so he can see what it is like. And maybe he'll be brave enough to join you!! -- Rachel

Moms' Comments

I'm the mother of four children, two girls and two boys. The girls, ages 10 and 8 years, have been taking ballet for a few years. My oldest boy, age 7, is ADHD and I tried creative dance with him once before but he went totally nuts (and took the teacher with him...) and my youngest boy, age 6 was also in the same class (big brother drove him batty too!!) This was about 2 years ago. My youngest boy has become increasingly interested in ballet as he has watched his sisters perform and take lessons, so about a month ago he asked to go into a real ballet program and so far he's really enjoyed it. His ballet teacher has gone out of her way to introduce him to the "big boy dancers", including the two men that will be dancing mechanical doll and nutcracker. Gizmo was totally awed!! Gizmo goes around showing everyone his plie's and tendue's and makes sure that everyone knows that he is taking ballet and in 2 years he is going to try out for nutcracker. The older girls totally dote on him and cover him with hugs and kisses. He's already got more girlfriends than any one little boy should have, and I think he enjoys being the only little boy in a class full of little girls in pink leotards, pink tights, and pink hair bows!! I would like to get my other boy into ballet, maybe after he matures a little more... The one bad thing is that we live in Redneck land Kansas where your average man says "No son of mine is going to be in ballet!!" I think that he is the only little boy in the city of Wichita enrolled in any ballet studio. So, I'm not sure what I'm going to do if and when Gizmo starts to get teased about ballet. For now, he's having a great time, and he enjoys watching ballets.

Figure 2.--Attitudes toward dance in America have been differentb than in Europe and the old Soviet Union. Some sources tell us that these attitudes are channging. We do not have a good fix on modern attituides.

Changing Attiutudes

A rfeader writes, "The old stigma of a boy being a "sissy" or a "faggot" if he takes dance or ballet is slowly starting to go by the wayside amongst kids. In some cases nowadays, a boy who takes "dance" is looked upon by his peers as being a "cool kid". It is only here in Canada and the United States that you have what is sometimes called or referred to as the "North American Phenomena" when it comes to styles of dress or subject matter. In Europe, (especially the Soviet Union) young boys who take ballet and dance are looked upon with great respect. In Russia boys compete fiercely to be in a recognized dance troupe. {This appaers to havev been the case in the Soviet Union. We are not sure if this attitude has continued in post-Soviet Russia. Hopefully one of our Russian readers willl be able to provide some information here.] That has great esteem! The same thing with clothing styles here in North America. You won't see a young boy wearing "strap shoes" or "Mary Jane" style footwear. Where as in Europe "strap shoes" for both boys and girls are quite common. Here in North America, boys who wear any type of clothing or shoes that may be considered as "feminine" or take dance lessons (particularly ballet) get ridiculed and scorned. In Europe this attitude does not exist.

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Created: November 27, 2000
Last updated: 4:58 AM 12/27/2004