To: Ballet World
Expand Gender Portrayals in the Ballet World
In the ballet world, gender usually decides or controls how dancers should dance. Now, with every changing gender norms and portrayals, we need to reform the gender roles in ballet, both in classes and on stage. We cannot reinforcing conventional ideas about masculinity and femininity.
Why is this important?
Ballet is a considered a traditional art form, and that contains certain portrayals of men and women in ballets. Women have been placed on a pedestal of beauty and grace delicately on pointe and men have been urged to exhibit their athleticism and strength through large jumps and fast turns. The stereotype of women being complacent and weak, and men being dominant and strong are also widespread in productions. These gender roles and stereotypes limit dancers to express themselves both physically and emotionally. It also reinforces the stereotype that women are dependent and men must always be strong and are never allowed to show emotion, both of which are no longer supported by modern society. In addition, the traditional gender roles of ballet also influence the type of dancing and movement patterns that male and female dancers each perform. This can begin to restrict the type of motions that dancers can create, making them less versatile.
For a long time, gender roles in ballet were traditional. Dancers are beginning to reject the idea of strictly binary roles that have been established in ballet that no longer reflect modern society’s belief about gender. This also includes the types of movement that each gender can perform. In a world that is constantly changing, allowing dancers novel freedom in their movements and roles can establish a powerful statement.