I am a boy who started doing ballet at age 8. It was my mom's idea and I can remember the first day of ballet class. I felt a little nervous and asked Mom if the ballet slippers made me look too girly. Mom smiled and told me not to worry about things like that, she thought ballet would be good for me and that there was another boy in the class too. Mom was right and it turned out that I did love ballet, it was fun and I was really glad that in class I wore a t-shirt and black shorts and I didn't have to wear tights.
Ballet was fine for a few years but then in sixth grade I quit ballet. There seemed to be more pressure to fit in and not be different. The boys at my school thought ballet was too girly. Also, I now had to wear tights in ballet class and that was embarrassing!
Last night I was on the Upper West Side walking past the theater where The Nutcracker is playing at Lincoln Center. Part of me wishes I had stayed with ballet. I would have loved to have played the Prince in The Nutcracker. But I am also glad that I was able to miss out on the teasing and rude remarks that likely would have happened if I stayed with ballet.
Did you ever know a boy who did ballet? How would a boy who does ballet have been treated at your school when you were in middle school or freshman year of high school?
Ballet was fine for a few years but then in sixth grade I quit ballet. There seemed to be more pressure to fit in and not be different. The boys at my school thought ballet was too girly. Also, I now had to wear tights in ballet class and that was embarrassing!
Last night I was on the Upper West Side walking past the theater where The Nutcracker is playing at Lincoln Center. Part of me wishes I had stayed with ballet. I would have loved to have played the Prince in The Nutcracker. But I am also glad that I was able to miss out on the teasing and rude remarks that likely would have happened if I stayed with ballet.
Did you ever know a boy who did ballet? How would a boy who does ballet have been treated at your school when you were in middle school or freshman year of high school?
