Two leading ballet schools in Britain have been accused of creating a poor working environment. Pupils told the BBC they had been criticized and bullied because of their weight. Some subsequently developed eating disorders.
The broadcaster spoke to more than fifty former dancers from the Royal Ballet School in London and the Elmhurst Ballet School in Birmingham. They attended the schools between 2004 and 2022. “Many have described developing eating disorders,” the broadcaster reported. Some had other psychological problems. In the report ‘The Dark Side of Ballet Schools’, a young woman stated that there were donuts as a reward after training – but only for a particularly skinny dancer. “You feel worthless,” she said.
School: „Positive changes since then“
The accused ballet schools have made statements. Elmhurst Ballet School said great importance is placed on psychological and mental health. Major and positive changes have taken place across the sector over the past fifteen years. The school declined to comment on details regarding confidentiality requirements. “We can say, however, that the school’s data differs in some respects from the reports provided to the program.”
The Royal Ballet School stressed that nothing was more important to it than the happiness of its young students. She continually works to protect their health and well-being. The reports highlight cases spanning several years. These have been investigated or forwarded to external authorities. Some would not even agree with the documents. In any case, they are willing to do further research when a new version is released.
A few years ago there were accusations against the Vienna State Opera in Vienna. It was about exercises, violence and sexual assault.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
