Difference between revisions of "LGBTQ Ballet Dancers"
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LGBTQ ballet dancers have been a visible and important part of the arts community for many generations. As an artistic field which appreciates its talent, it is a profession that has accommodated LGBTQ individuals even in conservative political and religious environments. | LGBTQ ballet dancers have been a visible and important part of the arts community for many generations. As an artistic field which appreciates its talent, it is a profession that has accommodated LGBTQ individuals even in conservative political and religious environments. | ||
| − | A survey of professional ballet dancers in 1997 revealed that they themselves believed that 57.8 percent of the men in dance companies overall were gay, while they considered 53 percent of the men in their own companies to be gay. Indeed, many past high profile LGBTQ ballet dancers are household names. These include Erik Bruhn of Denmark, Jerome Robbins of the United States, and Vaslav Nijinski or Rudolf Nureyev of Russia. | + | A survey of professional ballet dancers in 1997 revealed that they themselves believed that 57.8 percent of the men in dance companies overall were gay, while they considered 53 percent of the men in their own companies to be gay. Indeed, many past high profile LGBTQ ballet dancers are household names. These include [[Erik Bruhn]] of Denmark, [[Jerome Robbins]] of the United States, and [[Vaslav Nijinski]] or [[Rudolf Nureyev]] of Russia. |
In addition to their prominent early dance careers, many LGBTQ ballet artists have gone on to successful and illustrious post-dancing careers as Directors of national ballet companies or as choreographers of their own successful productions that toured the world. As both dancers and choreographers, individual success has translated into the receipt of many national awards and honours, such as the Order of the British Empire (OBE), the Order of Canada, the Order of Orange-Nassau, and others. | In addition to their prominent early dance careers, many LGBTQ ballet artists have gone on to successful and illustrious post-dancing careers as Directors of national ballet companies or as choreographers of their own successful productions that toured the world. As both dancers and choreographers, individual success has translated into the receipt of many national awards and honours, such as the Order of the British Empire (OBE), the Order of Canada, the Order of Orange-Nassau, and others. | ||
| − | Surprisingly, we have yet to identify any lesbians in the group of LGBTQ ballet dancers. There is only one publicly recognized transgender individual - Jin Xing of China. The LGBTQ participation in the profession has been dominated by gay male dancers - this reinforces the stereotype of the male ballet dancer as breathtakingly beautiful and gay. | + | Surprisingly, we have yet to identify any lesbians in the group of LGBTQ ballet dancers. There is only one publicly recognized transgender individual - [[Jin Xing]] of China. The LGBTQ participation in the profession has been dominated by gay male dancers - this reinforces the stereotype of the male ballet dancer as breathtakingly beautiful and gay. |
Most are familiar with the ground-breaking all-male production of Swan Lake created by the famed [[Matthew Bourne]] of Great Britain. He has also produced a dance production of [[Oscar Wilde]]’s novel 'The Picture of Dorian Gray'. | Most are familiar with the ground-breaking all-male production of Swan Lake created by the famed [[Matthew Bourne]] of Great Britain. He has also produced a dance production of [[Oscar Wilde]]’s novel 'The Picture of Dorian Gray'. | ||
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Nevertheless, these LGBTQ dancers hail from countries as diverse as Denmark, Spain, Finland, Brazil, Canada, Russia, Barbados, the United States, Great Britain, Italy, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, and France. | Nevertheless, these LGBTQ dancers hail from countries as diverse as Denmark, Spain, Finland, Brazil, Canada, Russia, Barbados, the United States, Great Britain, Italy, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, and France. | ||
| − | * [[Reid Anderson]] | + | '''Argentina''' |
| − | * [[Aleksandar Antonijevic]] | + | |
| − | * [[ | + | * [[Julio Bocca]] |
| − | * [[ | + | * [[Jorge Donn]] |
| − | * [[ | + | |
| − | * [[ | + | '''Australia''' |
| − | * [[ | + | |
| − | * [[ | + | * [[Antony Hamilton]] |
| − | * [[ | + | * [[Robert Helpmann]] |
| − | * [[ | + | * [[Damian Smith]] |
| − | * [[ | + | |
| − | * [[ | + | '''Brazil''' |
| − | * [[ | + | |
| − | * [[ | + | * [[Marcelo Gomes]] |
| − | * [[ | + | |
| − | * [[ | + | '''Canada''' |
| − | * [[ | + | |
| − | * [[ | + | * [[Reid Anderson]] |
| − | * [[ | + | * [[Aleksandar Antonijevic]] |
| − | * [[ | + | * [[Rex Harrington]] |
| − | * [[Boris Kochno]] | + | * [[Brooke Lynn Hytes]] (Brock Hayhoe) |
| − | * [[ | + | * [[James Kudelka]] |
| − | * [[ | + | |
| − | * [[ | + | '''China''' |
| − | * [[ | + | |
| − | * [[ | + | * [[Jin Xing]] |
| − | * [[Antonio Najarro]] | + | |
| − | * [[ | + | '''Denmark''' |
| − | * [[ | + | |
| − | * [[ | + | * [[Erik Bruhn]] |
| − | * [[ | + | |
| − | * [[ | + | '''Finland''' |
| − | * [[ | + | |
| − | * [[ | + | * [[Jorma Uotinen]] |
| − | * [[ | + | |
| − | * [[ | + | '''France''' |
| − | * [[James Whiteside]] | + | |
| − | * [[ | + | * [[Maurice Bejart]] |
| + | * [[Jean-Baptiste Lully]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | '''Great Britain''' | ||
| + | |||
| + | * [[Frederick Ashton]] | ||
| + | * [[Matthew Bourne]] | ||
| + | * [[Rupert Doone]] | ||
| + | * [[Frederic Franklin]] | ||
| + | * [[Stephen Hough]] | ||
| + | * [[Wayne Sleep]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | '''Italy''' | ||
| + | |||
| + | * [[Roberto Bolle]] | ||
| + | * [[Saverio Pescucci]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | '''New Zealand''' | ||
| + | |||
| + | * [[Alexander Grant]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | '''Portugal''' | ||
| + | |||
| + | * [[Marcelino Sambe]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | '''Russia''' | ||
| + | |||
| + | * [[Boris Kochno]] | ||
| + | * [[Serge Lifar]] | ||
| + | * [[Leonide Massine]] | ||
| + | * [[Vaslav Nijinski]] | ||
| + | * [[Rudolf Nureyev]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | '''Spain''' | ||
| + | |||
| + | * [[Nacho Duato]] | ||
| + | * [[Antonio Najarro]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | '''The Netherlands''' | ||
| + | |||
| + | * [[Rudi Van Dantzig]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | '''United States''' | ||
| + | |||
| + | * [[David Hallberg]] | ||
| + | * [[Robert Joffrey]] | ||
| + | * [[Parker Kit Hill]] | ||
| + | * [[John Lam]] | ||
| + | * [[Jeremy McQueen]] | ||
| + | * [[Mark Morris]] | ||
| + | * [[Justin Peck]] | ||
| + | * [[Joshua Peugh]] | ||
| + | * [[Jerome Robbins]] | ||
| + | * [[Jock Soto]] | ||
| + | * [[Christopher Stowell]] | ||
| + | * [[James Whiteside]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==See Also== | ||
| + | |||
| + | * [[Notable LGBTQ Dance Choreographers]] | ||
| + | * [[Notable LGBTQ Artistic Directors in the Arts and Entertainment World]] | ||
==Further Reading/Research== | ==Further Reading/Research== | ||
Latest revision as of 20:31, 19 September 2021
The world of the Ballet dancer is a unique one. As an artistic venture that incorporates athletic ability, artistic expression, and public performance, it demands a significant amount of talent for the individual artist. Similar to many demanding professional sports, it tends to be a profession for the young that takes a heavy toll in terms of time, energy, and physical and mental stamina.
LGBTQ ballet dancers have been a visible and important part of the arts community for many generations. As an artistic field which appreciates its talent, it is a profession that has accommodated LGBTQ individuals even in conservative political and religious environments.
A survey of professional ballet dancers in 1997 revealed that they themselves believed that 57.8 percent of the men in dance companies overall were gay, while they considered 53 percent of the men in their own companies to be gay. Indeed, many past high profile LGBTQ ballet dancers are household names. These include Erik Bruhn of Denmark, Jerome Robbins of the United States, and Vaslav Nijinski or Rudolf Nureyev of Russia.
In addition to their prominent early dance careers, many LGBTQ ballet artists have gone on to successful and illustrious post-dancing careers as Directors of national ballet companies or as choreographers of their own successful productions that toured the world. As both dancers and choreographers, individual success has translated into the receipt of many national awards and honours, such as the Order of the British Empire (OBE), the Order of Canada, the Order of Orange-Nassau, and others.
Surprisingly, we have yet to identify any lesbians in the group of LGBTQ ballet dancers. There is only one publicly recognized transgender individual - Jin Xing of China. The LGBTQ participation in the profession has been dominated by gay male dancers - this reinforces the stereotype of the male ballet dancer as breathtakingly beautiful and gay.
Most are familiar with the ground-breaking all-male production of Swan Lake created by the famed Matthew Bourne of Great Britain. He has also produced a dance production of Oscar Wilde’s novel 'The Picture of Dorian Gray'.
Nevertheless, these LGBTQ dancers hail from countries as diverse as Denmark, Spain, Finland, Brazil, Canada, Russia, Barbados, the United States, Great Britain, Italy, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, and France.
Argentina
Australia
Brazil
Canada
China
Denmark
Finland
France
Great Britain
Italy
New Zealand
Portugal
Russia
Spain
The Netherlands
United States
- David Hallberg
- Robert Joffrey
- Parker Kit Hill
- John Lam
- Jeremy McQueen
- Mark Morris
- Justin Peck
- Joshua Peugh
- Jerome Robbins
- Jock Soto
- Christopher Stowell
- James Whiteside
See Also
- Notable LGBTQ Dance Choreographers
- Notable LGBTQ Artistic Directors in the Arts and Entertainment World
