The Problem with Gender in Dance

A look at the limitations of gender portrayal in classical ballet

The strictly binary roles that have been established in ballet no longer reflect society’s beliefs about gender and restrict the types of movement that male and female dancers can perform. While ballet is a traditional art form, that does not mean that there is no room for reform within it. Some choreographers, like Alexei Ratmansky, contest this idea, arguing that there are differences between men and women and the two simply cannot perform the same way. Yet, an increasing number of works are being created that dispute this idea. Classic pieces like Swan Lake will always be beautiful and magical, but ballet can be an art form with both traditional and modern aspects.

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