By Molly Lindstrom ‘21, Arts & Entertainment Writer

This past summer sparked a major movement in the dance community, known as the #boysdancetoo movement. Although this movement has been an important issue for a long time in the dance world, it immediately took over the media due to an outrage caused by Good Morning America’s Lara Spencer. It all started with Spencer’s mocking comments and laughter regarding Prince George’s newfound interest in ballet: “Prince William says George absolutely loves ballet. I have news for you, Prince William, we’ll see how long that lasts.” Although Spencer may not have meant to cause offense, her comments were received as a form of bullying throughout the entire dance and theater community. In addition to the video clip of the news segment, responses to Spencer’s remarks flooded social media, all including the hashtag #boysdancetoo. Famous icons of the industry jumped into the movement, including world renowned dancer, actress, and television director Debbie Allen, who posted a moving video on instagram of her reaction to the issue. “Darling, you are not on Saturday Night Live. You are a respected media journalist,” exclaimed Allen. “So you owe not just the royal family but the dance world an apology for poking fun at something that we’re very sensitive about.” Boys from all backgrounds in the dance community shared their stories growing up as young male dancers, receiving comments like those of Spencer’s every single day. 

In addition to taking action on social media, the dance community came together to protest and spread awareness of the issue by organizing a rally in Times Square called “Good Morning Ballet.” The event consisted of a public ballet class lead by well-known faces of the industry: two-time Emmy-winning Travis Wall, the principal dancer of Joffrey Ballet Fabrice Calmels, and Robbie Fairchild, who will appear in the upcoming film Cats. Over 300 people showed up to take the class and to support the issue. Lara Spencer even sat down with Wall, Fairchild, and Calmels, to discuss their experiences dealing with being bullied for taking ballet. In this interview, Spencer confessed “I screwed up,” and apologized for her behavior during her conversation with the three dancers about the harmful negativity directed towards male dancers. “We are a community of love, and in order for us to move forward we have to move forward together,” stated Fairchild. Spencer concluded the interview by acknowledging her mistakes and thanking the community for giving her the opportunity to apologize and educate herself on the issue, referring to this experience a chance to “turn a negative into a teaching moment.” 

Unfortunately, the movement does not end here. Not long after the scandal, Fox News shared a segment in response to the backlash that Lara Spencer received and to the “Good Morning Ballet” class in Times Square. Fox News first played a clip from Lara Spencer’s interview with Wall, Fairchild, and Calmels. Reporters Raymond Arroyo and Laura Ingraham then proceeded to mock the movement as a whole, throwing out snarky comments such as “Can you believe this? This is what politicians do when they offend an ethnic group,” “They look like tai chi people,” and worst of all, “I hope she offends a mechanic next, so the boys know how to change the oil in a car.” These comments are exactly the kind that the dance community is trying to erase. This news segment felt like a slap in the face to the dance world, because all of the effort they had put into the #boysdancetoo movement was completely ignored by Arroyo and Ingraham. In a post on Instagram attaching the clip of the Fox News segment, Travis Wall shared, “This country has a massive bullying problem. To be angry is a choice. I just feel sorry for anyone that has to wake up everyday and wear those shoes that their feet fill.” 

The #boysdancetoo movement is extremely important to recognize in the United States in order to put an end to bullying, and to allow all kids the freedom to pursue any activity of their choice without receiving any harmful stigma. Although there are no male dancers enrolled in intermediate or advanced dance at Newark Academy, I hope this inspires members of the community to pursue their passion regardless of the comments of others.