Queensland Ballet Academy changing culture and stigma around male dancers

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Boys are finding a new way to build strength and flexibility, but it's not in the gym or on the footy field. They're doing free, boys-only ballet classes in Brisbane through a Queensland Ballet Academy initiative.

Transcript

00:0012-year-old Lucas Goodridge is perfecting his technique.

00:07My mum said if I wanted to be good at hip-hop I had to do ballet.

00:10So I did, grudgingly I did one class.

00:13I just thought I'd just really like this and then here we are now.

00:16His Wednesday night class is boys only.

00:19You do more male technique and stuff like that

00:21and you work on less like floaty arms and more like jumps and strength.

00:26That's really good.

00:27Arms, strong arm with the chest open.

00:29Boys between 7 and 15 years of age come from across South East Queensland to take part.

00:35In my old town I was the only boy in the whole ballet school

00:39so there wasn't much like people to teach me how to dance like a boy.

00:44The free classes aim to boost the number of boys doing ballet.

00:48Tall one you're supporting, leg out, close.

00:52To turn around a dip in enrolments after the COVID-19 pandemic.

00:56We wanted to create an environment where they felt safe, they felt included, they felt supported and to create their own community.

01:02You get a different energy when you get a whole heap of men or young men in the room with a male teacher.

01:08It's hoped they'll also change the way many Australians think about male ballet dancers.

01:13I think we're still seen as men in tights running around after a swan or some other spiritual creature.

01:19The industry has changed, it has evolved. We're seen as elite athletes.

01:23The academy will keep offering the free classes for as long as possible to help spread the word about the benefits of dance for boys.

01:32So what we're trying to do is change that culture and that stigma around what it is to be a male dancer.

01:38An on point message for a new generation.

01:45All right.

01:46All right.

01:47Let's go.

01:49Let's get started.

01:50Let's go.

01:51Let's go.

01:53Let's go.

01:54Let's go.

01:55Let's go.

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