Former dancers have described a long-running 'toxic' culture of body-shaming and bullying at two of the UK's most prestigious ballet schools, the Royal Ballet School and Elmhurst Ballet School. The BBC spoke to over 50 ex-students who attended between 2004 and 2022, many of whom reported developing eating disorders and mental health issues.
Grace Owen, 22, recalled an incident at Elmhurst where a teacher singled out the thinnest pupil, saying only she could eat a doughnut. At her graduation party in 2020, another teacher allegedly told students that all but one or two needed to lose weight to get a job. Ellen Elphick, 30, said a Royal Ballet School teacher mimed cutting off parts of her body in front of a mirror, causing her eating disorder to spiral.
One retired ballerina has begun legal action against the Royal Ballet School over her treatment. The schools said they are working to change the culture and prioritise health and wellbeing, but former students and their families argue change has been too slow and the schools failed in their duty of care.
Trauma psychologist Gayle Sturrock, who has counselled hundreds of ballet dancers, noted that constant criticism can become 'hard-wired' in young dancers. The BBC has provided details of organisations offering support for eating disorders and mental health.
