BalletDeservesBetter

Let's end abuse, fear and the culture of silence in ballet.
Professional dancer hoping for change.

#DancersAlliance #DancersDeserveBetter

[Pointe Magazine @pointe_magazine]

University of North Carolina School of the Arts is facing multiple allegations of abuse in a lawsuit filed by famed sexual harassment attorney Gloria Allred and Lanier Law Group. Here’s what we know so far.

https://t.co/OEV0HAtOZd

[New York Times Arts @nytimesarts]

Some 56 former students of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, who attended at some point during a four-decade span, have sued the school, saying that, as minors, they were sexually, physically or emotionally abused by faculty members. https://t.co/uihEhhzdwD

[BalletDeservesBetter @Ballet_Voices]

Referencing recent cases, this article gives an insight into how #grooming works in the #ballet world. A must read for all #dancers, #danceteachers, #companydirectors ,
support staff and parents.

#DancersDeserveBetter #Abuse #BalletWest #YatSenChang

https://t.co/XZT12rUL1I

[Claire Heafford @claireheafford]

It’s been said many times since the #gymnastalliance kicked off… ‘how long will it be before ballet has its own reckoning’? This one will be extremely interesting to follow. Ballet like gymnastics has abuse built in. Perfection based practices = long term mental health issues.

[law4dance @law4dance]

2/2 Social services working with police on this. Pity it was hidden in p85. Please make it more visible!! Retweet!!!

[law4dance @law4dance]

1/2 Appeal in @dancingtimes for anyone with information about Royal Ballet School regarding abuse, bullying, belittling or witnessing such behaviours to come forward in total confidence to LADO and police

[Simon Albury @simonbg12]

Royal Opera House ‘hid claims’ against choreographer Liam Scarlett

https://t.co/HiCYNQ72y7

[Leigh Day @LeighDay_Law]

Abuse lawyer @AllymMillar has commended the bravery of dancers who exposed the crimes of a former principal dancer jailed this week for the sexual assault of young female students at the English National Ballet and Young Dancers Academy
https://t.co/MDEEFgkUQI

[Jessica- DaretoDance @daretodanceblog]

This is a very prevalent opinion in dance and other performing arts. Teachers are overly harsh or even abusive under the guise of preparing students for the industry. Teach students to expect and demand better instead of teaching them to expect mistreatment.

[John Byrne @dearjohnbyrne]

If any drama tutor or official tells you they are 'preparing you for the industry' by treating you badly they are lying. This industry can indeed be harsh. Anyone who is not supporting your safety & actively working to change the system is profiting from it, not addressing it.

[The Stage @TheStage]

ArtsEd must empower its staff to call out inappropriate practices without fear of victimisation and should consider implementing a whistleblowing policy, the lawyer behind an external investigation into misconduct at the school has recommended https://t.co/bPulBr5ED4

[Matt Bond🇺🇦 @MattBondVocal]

I wish I could say this was shocking. After 7 years in the industry it doesn’t shock me at all. There are still too many people who, when their name gets mentioned in conversations, people have knowing looks on their faces.

[BalletDeservesBetter @Ballet_Voices]

'Sexy dance', 'wear what you dare' and 'naked bond' - how was this kind of language ever permitted towards students? Not to mention staff-student relationships. The whole culture of #dance and #mt training urgently needs to change. #artsed #dramaschool #DancersDeserveBetter

[The Stage @TheStage]

ArtsEd principal Chris Hocking has resigned following an external investigation into allegations of serious misconduct at the drama school, which found a failure of leadership and an “overly sexualised environment” in the school of musical theatre. https://t.co/kG6XWJ7Uu3

[OnStage Blog @OnstageBlog]

"In a series of videos, actress Rebecca Caine is speaking out, about the abuse she suffered during the 1989 Toronto production of 'Phantom' at the hands of her co-star, Colm Wilkinson, and the producer who stood idly by. The latter of which about to return to Broadway."

[BalletDeservesBetter @Ballet_Voices]

Interesting observation. It fits.

[minnie lane @theminnielane]

Can I be a culture critic but only write about dance? Like let me write a heady essay about how the rise of customizable leotards in the 2010s is a reflection of ballet dancer’s increasing tension with the lack of agency in their field

[The Stage @TheStage]

Former English National Ballet principal dancer Yat-Sen Chang has been jailed for nine years for sexual assault https://t.co/e9GylrRKIE

[Graham Watts @GWDanceWriter]

Another blot on the #ballet landscape - https://t.co/1oUqBLIqFq

[Peter A Smith @PeterAdamSmith]

If you want to highlight your own experience in the dance industry, please do contact us at [email protected]

[Peter A Smith @PeterAdamSmith]

Does ballet have a problem?

Award-winning dancer & teacher Yat-Sen Chang is convicted of sexually abusing students, including a 16 year-old.

And yet, even after his conviction, some of ballet’s most prominent figures publicly support him in a ‘Justice for Yat-Sen Chang’ group

[Chris is 💯% chilled @apurrpurr]

The bravery of the women who reported him under threat of having their careers finished is astounding. And still they defend him 😡 https://t.co/WtsZ1pzeLM