Shaping Tomorrow's Ballet Stars: Boys Breaking Barriers and Dancing Boldly

Barnaby, a young boy from Leeds, first discovered ballet during the Covid lockdowns when he saw his sister taking dance classes on Zoom. Inspired, he began joining in from the hallway at home and eventually signed up for real classes after the pandemic. Barnaby enjoys ballet because it allows him to be creative while also following set techniques and rules. He feels more at ease in dance classes than at school, even though his family was not familiar with dance before he started. Barnaby dreams of joining a professional ballet company and says that being the only boy in his class means there is less competition for roles, which he finds positive.

Joe, a 16-year-old from Bradford, originally wanted to be a footballer like many other kids. However, his path changed when his mother received an email from the Northern School of Contemporary Dance (NSCD) in Leeds, where only about 10% of the students are boys. Joe decided to audition and, after being accepted, has dedicated himself to dance for the past three years. He credits dance with giving him confidence and changing his life. At NSCD, Joe joined an all-male group called Collide, which was created to address the lack of male dancers. At first, Joe found it unusual to be surrounded by other boys who danced, but he now appreciates the sense of community.

Both Joe and Barnaby receive financial support for their training through the National Centres for Advanced Training in Dance (CAT), which is funded by the Department for Education. The CAT program helps aspiring dancers aged 11 to 18 and reaches about 900 students across 10 regional centers, with many receiving bursaries based on family income. However, there are concerns that funding for the program may be cut, which could limit opportunities for young dancers. Teachers and students stress the importance of continued support to help boys pursue dance, noting that while progress has been made since the days of Billy Elliot, challenges remain. They hope that with ongoing backing, more boys will be able to follow their passion for dance and become the next generation of talented performers.