There are troubled waters on Swan Lake.
The Royal Ballet School has announced plans to employ more plus-sized ballerinas.
“Audiences want dancers they can relate to,” artistic director Iain Mackay told the London Times, when asked whether this included plus-sized ballerinas on main stages. “Absolutely … I think this is already happening. They have been required to be more physical than ever before. Dancers that can tell a story, but dancers that are incredibly capable technically.”
I remember a time not so long ago that audiences wanted performers they could aspire to be.
The focus is moving away from the ‘slim’ female fixture of the classical repertoire, Mackay told The Times.
He also says the Royal Ballet will introduce same-sex dance partners to create what he deemed new audiences. In other words, the lead in Swan Lake could be a dude.
“The companies are really pushing the boundaries. I’d say though there’s still room for the big [traditional] narratives [to experiment],” he told the newspaper.
Critics argue that the famed ballet company is promoting obesity and putting male dancers in danger.
Defenders say there are some extremely talented full-figured dancers – and dance is meant to be enjoyed by everyone.
And there’s no doubt that the Royal Ballet could generate crowds to watch a guy toss a 300-pound ballerina into the air. Although, what goes up, must come down.
Here’s hoping the Royal Ballet has a good chiropractor on standby.