If You Think Ballet Is Only For Thin Girls? Think Again! [Video]

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Big Ballet: From Ovation

If You Think Ballet Is Only For Thin Girls? Think Again!

Big Ballet Confronts Body Stereotypes

When you think of ballet dancers, you immediately imagine strong, yet very thin bodies. Well, think again.

Former Royal Ballet dancer, Wayne Sleep has come up with a new reality show. “Oh, no, not another one,” you’re thinking.

Sleep knows, first hand, what ballet dancers go through with body their type and image. He struggled, not with his weight, but with his height. Not many ballet companies were willing to hire a 5’2 male dancer.

Likewise, aspiring ballerinas need a certain body type and weight to advance their careers. A otherwise good female dancer can lose her chance at her dream of dancing if she doesn’t fit the mold. Sleep decided to give these dancers that chance; he created “Big Ballet”.

While the concept of “Big Ballet” seems ripe for humiliating its stars (as reality shows often do), the show insists its intent is to change the perception that ballet dancers must be thin to be beautiful. In fact, most of the participants (who range widely in age) have prior dance training, but quit in discouragement after being told they were too heavy. For them, the opportunity to perform gives them a chance to finally fulfill a lifelong dream.

Full article at Pointe Magazine.

If You Think Ballet Is Only For Thin Girls? Think Again!

Wayne Sleep shares:

At only 5’2″, Sleep is famous for being the shortest male dancer ever admitted into the Royal Ballet School. Had he not left his audition for the school early and missed his final physical examination, he would not have gained a place. Because of his diminutive stature many directors were reluctant to cast him in traditional male lead roles. As a result many roles were created for him by noted choreographers including Ashton, MacMillan, de Valois, Layton, Nureyev and Neumeier.

You can find Wayne Sleeps entire biography on wikipedia.org.