This month, Queensland Ballet launches ballet boy projecta series of initiatives designed to explore and address the decline of boys in ballet and dance.
Male enrollment at Queensland Ballet Academy has dropped by 36 per cent since 2020, a downward trend that is evident across the professional training industry globally, Queensland Ballet Academy director Christian Tàtchev observed.
Queensland Ballet executive director Dilshani Weerasinghe said the company was taking the decline seriously, taking a market-leading stance and addressing potential sustainability issues for the art form.
“We therefore encourage the dance community and the wider community to join us in joining this movement to ensure that ballet’s tradition – although constantly evolving – lives on with the strong participation of male dancers,” said Weerasinghe.
The company was established this Boys Ballet Committee Identify obstacles and take action to resolve them.
as the first initiative ballet boy projectQueensland Ballet offers free weekly classes for boys aged 11 to 14 years at the home of Queensland Ballet (West End) and Queensland Ballet Academy (Kelvin Grove).
“We hope this new initiative will give male students the opportunity to make new friends, enjoy a safe and encouraging environment and be inspired by other boys and men pursuing their love of dance in our incredible facilities.
Gabrielle Johnston, director of operations at the college, said the initiative launched in mid-July and had already been well received.
“This measure aims to remove barriers for boys who want to take ballet lessons through free, no-requirements, fully-subsidised classes with no auditions. We have students from Coffs Harbor, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast and even Yeppoon of boys come to these classes focused on male ballet technique. Our goal is to create a unique opportunity to bring ballet-loving boys from the community together (sometimes the only boys in the class) to learn from leading professional male teachers. .
Students will enjoy the following benefits:
- Build friendships with other dancing boys
- Focus on male ballet technique
- Taught and mentored by leading professional male teachers
- Build a support network of like-minded peers
- Dance in a purpose-built professional dance studio
- Enjoy a safe and encouraging environment
- Be inspired by watching older boys and men pursue their love of ballet in our facilities.
To celebrate the launch of the programme, male dancers within the company were asked what inspired them to start dancing.
Company artist Callum Mackie said he did not play any sport as a young man but was inspired after watching his sister’s ballet concert. “I didn’t choose a sport, and I thought, I’ll give it a try. So, I tried contemporary music, tap, jazz, hip-hop, musical theater, classical music, and it just kept growing from there. I really loved it.
For Jette Parker young artist Joseph Moss, his mother’s dance studio is part of daily life. “I grew up with it, so it was inevitably a part of my life.”
The parents of corporate artist Lewis Formby were looking for a way to channel their son’s exuberant energy. “I did it because my sisters did it. I’m still here 20 years later,” he said.
Jette Parker Young artist Jack Jones knocked on the door to join the class when he was just two and a half years old. “It was just my thing. My friends went to play football or whatever, and I went to ballet.
Students can register for Ballet Boys classes here.
This year, all funds raised on the annual giving day will be donated to Queensland Ballet School and support the next generation of artists. A Day of Giving is held on August 8th. Thanks to the generous support of visionary matching donors, all donations made on the day will be quadrupled.
