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Maybe Lara Spencer did not see "Billy Elliot".
It was appalling that Ms. Spencer, host of "Good Morning America" on ABC, began to openly laugh at the news that a 6-year-old boy chose to study ballet. By listing Prince George's program on Thursday morning, she checked "religious studies, computer programming, poetry and ballet".
She pronounced it:BAH-allonger. "
And then she continued. "Prince William says George loves ballet," she said, looking mystified as she stifled the laughter. "I have news for you, Prince William. We will see how long it will last. "
How could ballet be the story of this story in 2019? Is it not more surprising that a six-year-old is studying computer programming? And start the ballet young is smart: it takes at least 10 years to develop a classical dancer. But, of course, the problem is not George's age; it's his sex.
The saddest part of this segment was perhaps how obvious it was that Mrs. Spencer did not think she had done anything inappropriate by humiliating a boy who wanted to study a secular art form. Or to perpetuate a tired and homophobic stereotype: this ballet is not a suitable profession for men.
The online response of the world of ballet has been swift and vehement, coming from institutions such as The Vail Dance Festival and the San Francisco Ballet, including dancers, including stars Robbie Fairchild, Ashley Bouder and James Whiteside.
Ms. Spencer's response to the tumult on Instagram did not help.
"My sincere apologies for an insensitive comment I made yesterday in the pop news. From ballet to everything we want to explore in life, I say GO ON IT. I firmly believe that we should all be free to pursue our passions. Go climb your mountain and love every minute.
The attached picture – a field of wild flowers with mountains in the distance – made it appear more like a sappy greeting card that a sincere apology. Dancer Barton Cowperthwaite said in a comment: "Nobody wants to see a photo of hiking at the bottom of your photo library. We want to see you apologize, on the air, for publicly dragging a child and a form of art into the mud. Ms. Spencer has since withdrawn all comments.
On his Instagram, the British choreographer Christopher Wheeldon wrote that he had met Prince George's parents and was not "surprised they were enrolling him in a ballet class." Mr. Wheeldon added: perfect forage for bullying! It was painful, but every second was worth it.
Calvin Royal III, of the American Ballet Theater, has addressed to young dancers: "Bullying and mockery are NOT acceptable, and we are at your side. I know that laughter and judgment will always remain hidden, whether you want to become a ballet dancer, take a dance class, attend a show or do anything other than the "norm". "
Reactions also came from beyond the world of dance: the actor George Takei said on Twitter: "This shows that" toxic masculinity "can also be violently spread by unresponsive women."
Prince George will survive intimidation. He is white, rich, the very definition of privileged and has the support of enlightened parents. But what about boys who want to dance but who are afraid? Or who dances, but the hiding of strangers and even their friends?
The fact is that many children are not free to pursue, as Mrs. Spencer has written, their "passions", an overused word that gives the impression that the study of dance is a fantasy … which amounts to making unicorns with rainbows.
Mrs. Spencer works in New York. Perhaps she should spend some time in the audience of the New York City Ballet, which will open its fall season in September, and the American Ballet Theater, which will follow in October. And he is not hurt to apologize on "Good Morning America" in front of all the ballet dancers and all the dance students that ABC can gather Monday morning. To remedy this problem, we must show the world how wrong it was.
In the meantime, a hashtag is born: # ballet4boys. Use it.
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