Social Analysis
The dance industry and the abuse that takes place are not accurately depicted by social systems, rather, it is often romanticized, and unrealistic beauty standards are encouraged.
Social Media
The media inaccurately portrays dance and the struggles of dancers. The art is often romanticized, meaning the media will portray dance to be more appealing than it is. For instance, we see social media influencers, particularly TikTok users, romanticize ballet. “Ballet core” is an aesthetic that has gone viral across social media platforms, mainly TikTok. Ballerinas often wear leotards, pretty tutus, legwarmers, tights, bows, and more, appearing to be “feminine, beautiful, and cute”. Ballet itself has that same aesthetic. According to an article from Who What Wear, “Ballet has reached its highest pinnacle yet, as it's managed to permeate every aspect of pop culture, including films, fashion, fine art, and so on.” However, the media is not portraying the harsh realities of ballet, such as abusive teachers and eating disorders. Therefore, hoping to look like the “perfect and girly” ballerinas that the media depicts, people are wearing ballet flats, puffed-out dresses, bows, leg warmers, dainty tops, tutu-inspired skirts, tights, and more, all to live—the romanticized and inaccurate—ballerina life.
Film
Popular culture places harsh beauty standards on dancers. Television, film, fashion, and social media are just a few examples of popular culture that encourage body shaming, racism, and ableism in the dance industry. The typical dancer we see in popular culture is white, slim, and non-disabled. According to a pre-med student at Portland State University, “Ballet dancers throughout the years have all been petite, tall and with long elegant limbs.” This discourages people with any other body type, people of color, and those with physical disabilities from participating in the art form. White supremacy is an ideology being emphasized in popular culture as ballerinas in movies are typically this race, discouraging people of color from trying to get jobs as dancers.
Polina and High Strung are two films that star white, slim, and non-disabled ballerinas. Since the beginning of the history of ballet, it has been mainly white dancers who perform due to racism and prejudices. More recently, we have seen a shift, and women and men of color are involved more in larger productions, but they are still underrepresented.
Stories
Lizzo
Lizzo, a performer who is known for embracing body positivity, got a lawsuit filed against her for participating in sexual harassment against her dancers and creating a hostile work environment. Three of her former dancers claimed that she called attention to one of the dancers' weight gain, and later criticized, then fired, that same dancer after she recorded a meeting because of a health condition. The dancers also allege that Lizzo pressured cast members to take turns touching nude performers at a club in Amsterdam. Lizzo specifically turned her attention to Ms. Davis, one of the dancers, and began pressuring her to touch one of the nude women; after Ms. Davis declined three times, Lizzo began a chant, trying to pressure the dancer into doing something that made her extremely uncomfortable. Additionally, Lizzo left false accusations, claiming that her dancers were drinking on the job.
The lawyer of the dancers, Ron Zambrano, claimed, “The stunning nature of how Lizzo and her management team treated their performers seems to go against everything Lizzo stands for publicly, while privately she weight-shames her dancers and demeans them in ways that are not only illegal but absolutely demoralizing.”
Chloé Lopes Gomes
Chloé Lopes Gomes—a French ballet dancer—is known for being the first biracial female dancer of sub-Saharan African descent in the Staatsballett Berlin. Gomes successfully called out racism in the dance industry. Describing the ballet world as “closed and elitist,” Gomes claims that she has been mocked for her skin color and, at times, pressured to wear white skin makeup, which left her feeling “unsupported and humiliated.”
The combination of injury from dance and harassment led Gomes to take time off from her career and she was prescribed antidepressant medication.
Gomes told NBC News, "Our skin color should not be a criteria, only talent should matter.” She felt that her beautiful qualities could not be embraced as she had to cover her skin color and straighten her curly hair to conform to the ideology of Eurocentrism. The ballet world often cares more about appearance than skill, which should not be the case.
Medina Hussen
Medina Hussen tells a personal story of how Dancers with disabilities in Ethiopia are discriminated against. It is challenging to succeed as a dancer if you have a disability, physical or mental.
Hussen had polio hit hard in one of her legs, affecting her ability to walk. Yet, she had the desire to dance.
She joined a group called Active Bodies, trained by Destino Dance. Medina explained, “Seeing dancers with disabilities move in that way was new for them.” Her quote shows that dancers with disabilities are not often represented, but when they are, it can be life-changing for those who experience a disability and have a passion for the art.