A BBC investigation has revealed a long-running culture of body-shaming and bullying at two of the UK’s most prestigious ballet schools. More than 50 ex-students of the Royal Ballet School and Elmhurst Ballet School, who attended between 2004 and 2022, have spoken out about the abuse they suffered at the hands of their teachers and peers. Many of them developed eating disorders, while some said they had been left with mental health problems. Both schools dispute the accounts given to the BBC.
The former dancers described being regularly body-shamed by teachers, who used “coded” language to encourage weight loss, such as “you look heavy today” or “you need to tone up”. Some said they were congratulated by teachers on losing weight, which caused their eating disorders to spiral out of control. Others said they experienced bullying from teachers, who would humiliate them in front of the class or make derogatory comments about their appearance, talent or personality.
One retired ballerina, who has begun legal action against the Royal Ballet School for the treatment she says she suffered there, said she was told by a teacher that she had “the body of a baby elephant” and that she should “go and kill herself”. She said she developed anorexia and bulimia, and attempted suicide several times.
The pressure to be perfect
The Royal Ballet School in London and Elmhurst Ballet School in Birmingham are among the world’s most celebrated ballet institutions, producing famous dancers such as Dame Margot Fonteyn, Dame Darcey Bussell, Carlos Acosta and Céline Gittens. They are also affiliated with the Royal Ballet Company and Birmingham Royal Ballet respectively, offering a direct pathway to a professional career for their graduates.
Every year, hundreds of the UK’s most talented children audition for one of the big vocational ballet schools, dreaming of a career on the stage. Only the best are chosen and proud parents hand over their children, as young as 11, to live and train at the fee-paying schools to pursue their dreams.
It is expected that ballet dancers must be slim and athletic in order to fulfil the roles, and ballet school training involves a gruelling programme akin to that of a professional athlete. But over the years, the industry has developed a reputation for eating disorders, and there has been criticism of the casting of extremely-thin ballerinas in lead roles.
The former dancers who spoke to the BBC said they felt immense pressure to be perfect, not only in terms of their technique and performance, but also in terms of their appearance and weight. They said they were constantly weighed, measured and scrutinised by their teachers and peers, and that they received mixed messages about what was expected of them.
Some said they were encouraged to eat healthily and take care of themselves, while others said they were discouraged from eating at all or were given diet pills by their teachers. Some said they were praised for being thin, while others said they were criticised for being too thin or too muscular. Some said they were told they had potential, while others said they were told they had no future in ballet.
The impact on mental health
The former dancers who spoke to the BBC said the body-shaming and bullying they endured at the ballet schools had a lasting impact on their mental health and self-esteem. Some said they developed anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) as a result of their experiences. Some said they struggled with body image issues, self-harm or substance abuse. Some said they lost their passion for ballet or quit dancing altogether.
One former student of Elmhurst Ballet School said she was diagnosed with PTSD after leaving the school. She said she had nightmares about her teachers and classmates, and that she felt like she was “back in hell” whenever she heard classical music or saw ballet shoes. She said she still had flashbacks and panic attacks when she saw anything related to ballet.
Another former student of the Royal Ballet School said he was diagnosed with OCD after leaving the school. He said he developed compulsive behaviours such as counting calories, checking his weight and measuring his body parts. He said he felt like he had to be perfect in everything he did, and that he was never good enough.
The response from the schools
Both the Royal Ballet School and Elmhurst Ballet School told the BBC they were working hard to change the culture, and put health and wellbeing at the forefront of their priorities. They said they had introduced new policies and procedures to prevent body-shaming and bullying, and to support students who were struggling with eating disorders or mental health issues. They also said they had trained their staff on how to deal with these matters sensitively and appropriately.
The Royal Ballet School said it was “deeply saddened” by the allegations made by some former students, but that it did not recognise them as a reflection of its current culture or practice. It said it had a “zero-tolerance policy” for any form of abuse or harassment, and that it encouraged students to report any concerns they had. It also said it had a “robust” safeguarding system in place, and that it worked closely with external agencies to ensure the safety and welfare of its students.
Elmhurst Ballet School said it was “shocked and saddened” by the allegations made by some former students, but that it did not accept them as a fair or accurate representation of its current culture or practice. It said it had a “strong culture of care and respect” for its students, and that it provided them with a “safe and supportive” environment. It also said it had a “comprehensive” safeguarding system in place, and that it worked closely with external agencies to ensure the safety and welfare of its students.
The BBC’s Panorama and File on 4 programmes will air the full investigation on Monday 11 September at 8:30pm on BBC One and BBC Radio 4 respectively.