Women In Ballet Matter: The War On Women

 What does Classical Ballet look like today? How are ballet basics, the concept and existence of women ballet dancers, prima ballerinas, highly anticipated roles and women dancing women's roles being forgotten? Things that can come about after hard work and longevity within your professional career, for women, are being sidelined during the larger discussion of that famous word, Inclusion. As men are being allowed to take on women's roles within ballet, the misplacement of gender, in this case is being packaged as a feat and a glorious overcoming. However, men taking the place of women in ballet is no accomplishment. A man does not carry the beauty of a woman, the ethereal nature of her tender yet firm body, nor do they emanate the unforgettable radiance that grips an audience as her bourres move like a well-oiled machine or her upper back takes one last breath before lengthening into a penche. Men bring a different experience to the stage but they cannot serve what a woman does. So, in companies of men and women, why are women being forgotten? 

This translation of war on women, from sports to the dance world, has to be eradicated. Otherwise, soon, watching classical ballet on stage, inside of the theater, will be a thing of the past. It will continue to morph into obscurity, letting down even those amazing ballet dancers who worked for years, inspiring many. Women in the realm of professional ballet are being targeted for gradual extinction as men in companies are being considered for roles only women can fulfill. In a previous article I spoke on the detriment of forgetting gender and its roles in dance. It is worth the read if you are an artist who cares about your craft. 

Without women being in every rightful place, ballet suffers greatly. We can all pretend that we don't wait at the edge of our seats for Kitri, Odette, Juliet or Cinderella to appear, expecting a woman, but we do. We all do. Men are also vital to classical ballet but only in their rightful position. That will always more powerful. 

Mel Tomlinson, Carlos Acosta, Donald Williams, Edward Villella, Finis Jhung, Arthur Mitchell...

Ponder these names and their individual positions in and contributions to classical ballet. Men have their place in classical ballet.

It is time to preserve women.