Figure 1.--Most American boys have viewed ballet differently than many European boys. This painter thought it necessary to show that this dancer was a red-blooded, jeans-wearing and baseball-palying American boy. HBC is confused, however, as to why the boy seems to be picutured wearing a skirt. As one HBC contrubutor notes, boys in balet do NOT wear skirts.

Balet is a major activity in Russia and boys have participated enthusiatically. I do not know if all the changes sweeping Russia is affecting this. The same can not be said about American boys. The same lack of enthusiasm is true in Britain, but I am less sure of the attitudes of boys in the various European countries. Some American mothers used to take dance lessons, but this no longer occurs. It is now more likely to be the boy's own idea. Macaully McCaughlin, for example, was very enthusiastic about ballet.

Schools With Boys

For those who are considering putting boys in dance classes, I would add that you should seek out companies that have boys, particularly in the upper levels. Dealing with the peer pressure is tough for 10-year-old and older boys, and you really can't tell when they are through it... a young man who was probably the best student tapper our company has ever had (one of three whom I actually liked to see dance -- normally I hate tap), quit dancing because of the peer pressure at age 16.

Image

A HBC contributor reports that the image here is a doctored fantasy image. He stresses that boys in ballet do NOT wear skirts. HBC concurs with the contributor. that boys in balet do not wear skirts. HBC assumed that this was an original image and does not know to what extent the image has been altered. When loading the image, HBC did wonder about what the boy was wearing. It does appear that he is wearing a skirt of some type which HBC agrees is not realustic. HBC thougt that perhaps it was some kind of blouse that he had not yet put on. HBC does not know who the artist was and what the original image was. Based on HBC's experience with such inages, it would not have been eacy to alter.

Role Models

This is purely theorizing on my part, but I think it would be ideal if the company could (a) have boys in the advanced classes drop in on lower-level classes with boys, to be teaching assistants, so that the younger boys realize they are there; (b) if there are enough boys, have a boys-only class for 10- to 12-year-olds with flexibility on both ends; (c) for the boys who move up out of that class, do some emphasis on pas de deux, lifts, other stuff that makes the boy as a boy an essential part of the dance, rather than having him look like a blue duckling in a crowd of yellow ducklings.

Boys' Concerns

There are a variety of reasons why boys in America, Britain, aod other countries do not want to do balet. 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.

Parental Concerns

Parents also have concerns about their sons taking ballet--in part reflecting the concern of the boys.

Special steps

Many schools take special steps to accomodate boys. One school reports that boys are very welcome in the school and that they currently have 9 boys aged from 4 to 14 years of age taking part in both ballet and tap classes; quite a considerable number given the rural location of most branches. Boys are encouraged to take part in shows, exams, workshops etc., in fact every aspect of the school, and both the RAD and IDTA offer a balanced syllabus in ballet and tap which can be taught in the same classes as the girls. Most of the exercises are similar to the girls, with slight changes to arm positions, finishing positions and sometimes a different variation to the music. In addition, some of the higher grades have extra allegro (jumping) exercises just for the boys, to build strength.

Small number of boys

Often when there are only one or two boys in a class, parents worry that the boy may feel inhibited. One school tells parents that there experience has shown that boys more often thrive on being the only boy as it gives them a sense of being special, especially when their strength starts to show in the later grades and they learn to `out jumpī the girls! Like all the pupils at the school, the boys are encouraged to attend any available external courses, particularly those specialising in the teaching of the boys syllabus.

Tights

Tights are a major concern for many boys. "Do boys have to wear tights...?" is a question often asked by prospective parents. Many schools require tights, especially beyond the preparatory pre-ballet classes. For other schools the answer is a loud NO! Boys may be allowed to wear shorts, tracksuit joggers, cycle shorts in fact anything that they will be comfortable in. Usually, after a few years when confidence has been built, those who wish to study ballet beyond grade 3 are happy to wear the RAD navy uniform tights, but they are not compulsory and no boy will be prevented from dancing or taking exams in whatever is comfortable, so long as it is suitable to move in.

Special Approaches

Some ballet and other dance schools that are successful at working with boys have adopted specvial approaches. Many schools report attracting a few younger boys, but by middle school, boys are put under great pressure to stop dancing. While mothers are often supporive, many fathers are not.

Figure 2.--Boys in ballet costumes are a common comedic paradoy in America and Britain. For some reason the boys for these parodies are often pictured in tu-tus, a girl's ballet costume. This is a scene from "You Can't Do That on Television".

Parodies

Ballet costumes are commonly used in commedy parodies. The costumes are used to accentuate comedic situations by American an British writers. In these countries the popular culture strongly relates ballet and dance in general to girls. Thus boys dressed in ballet costumes are often perceived as humerous. The public reactiin to these parodies appears to vary widely from country to country. HBC has less information on other countries such as Russia and France where ballet is more acceptble. Presumably boys in ballet costumes would be preceived as less humerous in these countries as ballet is more accepted in the popular culture. Interestingly, the comic device used is generally to outfit boys in girls ballet costumes like tutus, a garment a boy taking ballet would never wear. It is unclear to HBC why ballet is used as such a subject as parody. And why the parody often takes the step of outfitting boys in girls' costumes, something that would never occur in relaity.