A while back I did a post entitled Encouraging Boys to Dance. It had a good response and I was even asked to submit an edited version for the PTA (National Parent Teacher Association) website. It is my firm belief that boys should be encouraged to dance by dance teachers and parents in particular. After all, there are many who would discourage them – we should be making it an easier choice for young guys who may have an interest in the art form. Sadly, many dance schools seem completely geared toward females (maybe without even realizing it), effectively turning young men away. Dancers thrive in an environment where they feel comfortable to be themselves and safe from judgment or abuse. Therefore, dance schools and parents must make an effort to provide this environment for boys in dance.
Check it out!
I recently came upon two blogs which are the primary purpose of this post. They are excellent resources for male dancers and their parents. The first is My Son Can Dance, a chronicle of one dance mom’s experiences with raising a boy who dances. Teachers, dance moms, and male dancers should definitely take note of this site! The second is Boys and Ballet, essentially a collection of news articles from around the globe that feature boys or men in the dance world (specifically ballet but other genres are occasionally featured) – an excellent resource that can act as a source of encouragement for young men involved in dance.
While we’re on the subject…
Here are some other links:
- Teacher lesson plan that reinforces the idea that dance is a beneficial activity for men and women.
- Bad Boys of Dance – a company of male dancers who tour… field trip!!
- River’s Edge Dancewear – large selection of men’s dancewear.
- All About Dance men’s dancewear selection
- The Ailey School’s program for boys.
- The Men in Dance festival in Seattle
- A clearly written article on boys in dance in an educational setting (pdf).
- Inspiring Boys through Dance – interesting education project (UK) which provides insight applicable to other settings.
- Helping Boys Make the Leap to Ballet – from the Washington Post, a good reminder that boys in dance can enjoy both dance and sports.
- Born to Be Wild – The Leading Men of American Ballet Theatre
- Billy Elliot: an enjoyable movie (note: it is rated R for language)
- The Jacob’s Pillow gallery of Ted Shawn’s The Men Dancers (prints available for purchase)
- An excellent example of grace and masculinity –
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5kZueQ8C5I]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5G9gtZa1H0]
Children’s Books (great for your studio waiting room or home library)
- Jose! Born to Dance: The Story of Jose Limon
- Alvin Ailey
- The Only Boy in Ballet Class
- Ballerino Nate
- Dancing to Freedom: The True Story of Mao’s Last Dancer
- …and more children’s books!
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Nichelle Suzanne is a writer specializing in dance and online content. She is also a dance instructor with over 20 years experience teaching in dance studios, community programs, and colleges. She began Dance Advantage in 2008, equipped with a passion for movement education and an intuitive sense that a blog could bring dancers together. As a Houston-based dance writer, Nichelle covers dance performance for Dance Source Houston, Arts+Culture Texas, and other publications. She is a leader in social media within the dance community and has presented on blogging for dance organizations, including Dance/USA. Nichelle provides web consulting and writing services for dancers, dance schools and studios, and those beyond the dance world. Read Nichelle’s posts.
Boys and dance is such a heated topic with so many avenues to consider. First and fore most YES– boys should dance! I’m a huge fan of encouraging all kids and adults to dance and move and explore what our bodies can do and say. While I was finishing up my degree I was also teaching at a nearby studio. For my senior project I asked one of my students (a young boy) to be a part of my senior project (which is basically a show for graduating dancers to showcase their work). He was 6 years old and amazing. He came to my class as a tap dancer and I introduced him to contemporary dance which he immediately connected with and excelled in. The piece that we created together with another young girl opened the performance and he was just breathtaking with intensity and focus. He came from a supportive family and was always encouraged to pursue his artistic endeavors and I know that was a major part of his dance development.
On another note, while at university I took a class on dance and gender that encouraged interesting discussions about men in dance. It made me think about the many male dancers who decide in their later years that they want to dance and have to play catch up in college and who never really make the mark as a dancer despite being given places in companies. This can be a source of frustration for women in the dance world but blaming the men because of societal barriers is also not the key to change. Though, I realize this is definitely not the case for all men and many do go on to make amazing careers in dance just like some women do after starting late and there are many well trained male dancer that begin at an early age (like the fantastic video posted from Alvin Ailey). But I think the late start for many is a problem when discussing gender and dance. It also sends the wrong message to girls about their worth when they may have trained much more extensively and didn’t make a particular audition. In the end, it’s not healthy for both males and females and stifles the one while sending false praise to the other. Changing the perceptions of men and dance while encouraging teachers to provide more outlets for male dancer is definitely key to making a good transition for equality on many levels.
In another class I took we had a guest professor that came to talk with us. He was from The Netherlands (I think) and shared with us how Russian male dancers are the equivalent of male sports stars in the US. The problem with dance being too feminine is not part of their upbringing. So much of society’s dance misconception comes from our culture that separates men from art, artistry and the creative movement. With all this said, I know there are exceptions to the mainstream thought and wonderful examples of men in dance and art in general but the numbers of men in dance are revealing. I look forward to this unhealthy trend in taking a turn for the better. Way to go with this post!
I also need to get the Jose Limon book!