Will your 8-year-old son get picked on if he takes ballet lessons?

Answer 1

AnswerIt all depends on what country you are planning for him to do Ballet, and the socio-economic group your son, and yourself associate. Don't make the mistake that prejudice is not prevalent.

I can only say this as I myself began ballet at age 8. I progressed, trained at on of the worlds best pre-professional schools, and later became a professional male ballet dancer. Its a tough road, even during the first couple of years. Even though I didn't really take ballet seriously until I was about 12-13 throughout my time as a student and as a professional I was bullied, assaulted and laughed at. Not just by boys, girls as well. I remember in grade 4 at school I had to fight for the first time on the play ground in a pretty serious scuffle. Lucky for me I have a strong resilient personality. Through my entire life almost on a daily basis I have been questioned as to whether I am gay or not. I am not, but this didn't stop females, and on occasion ones I was sleeping with doubt my sexuality. Its a funny world, so watch you son, don't let him be bullied. I'd recommend that he train in a self defence as well, just to be on the safe side.

Having said all that ballet, is in my opinion the most sophisticated form of performing art, and the most beautiful, male dancers are revered in certain circles, as they should be, as its extremely difficult, athletic, and artistic. If your son shows signs of an artistic temperament, go for it.

Answer

I started ballet at 10. When word got out at school (you can't keep it a secret forever), a few people laughed at me, some people encouraged me, others said nothing. I am in high school now. Most people who find out these days say something along the lines of "Oh, that's cool", only a few laugh at me. No one has ever beat me up or called me gay for doing ballet. Perhaps I live in a more tolerant society. If your son wants to take ballet, let him. If society does not like it, you can change society's mind.

Other contributors have said:

Most likely, yes.I have been taken ballet since high school and ever since I started, I did everything in the realm of my power to keep it a secret. At my first class, there was a girl I recognized from my high school. We had a nice conversation after class and she even helped me some. I remember thinking... this could be fun. I think this is the start of something beautiful.

The next day at school, word got out about it and the TEACHER gave me some razzin.' I kid you not. I was in shock. I was so stunned, I think I ceased to be for a few seconds.

But since I've graduated from high school and left the judgemental, I haven't really gotten much ribbing since then. Anyway, the world has changed in ways a lot of us still don't even know. I now do ballet often and have dedicated a portion of my life to it. You have to if you really want to be good at it. It kind of sneaks up on you, then posseses you.

I've gotten a snicker here and there, but I've mostly gotten approving nods and words for my studies of classical dance. So in answer to your question, "How much love and interest does he have for the craft?"

AnswerI'm a high-school girl who takes ballet class. The studio I've been taking at for my whole life hardly has any guys. In my level there is one guy, all the others in the studio are about 7. I've really come to appreciate having this guy in my classes, I know that he works hard and doesn't care what people think. As for the girls at our studio, we have never made fun of any guy dancer because without them we wouldn't have a partner to dance with. I think it would be great for more boys to do ballet, there is really nothing wrong with it. AnswerWell it depends... there is a boy in my ballet class, and he never gets picked on. Some people think that ballet is cool, and I think it is. But some people may pick on him, but that's because they think that "ballet is only for girls".

Well you should know that there is some ballet companies just for boys...

Ballet is like a sport, and no one gets picked on from playing sports...

Answer">AnswerNo-one gets picked on because they dance. Bullies may use this as an excuse, but it's not a proper reason. If he has the confidence to dance, then he might well have the confidence required to stand up to people who have nothing better to do with their time than push other people around.

Answer

When people ask him why he does ballet, he can say "it gets me closer to the ladieeesss"...Your kid will be a player in no time:)