‘I want to be perfect.’ The impact of balletcore on our generation
A famous quote from fictional character Nina Sayers in 2010 film ‘Black Swan’ perfectly encapsulates the inner monologue of every professional dancer. The strive for perfection in their art form, but is this exclusively in the context of the physical sport? Ballet in particular has demonstrated an emphasis on perfection beyond the realms of precision in the movements, but also in the petite presentation of the body. We’ve heard what the industry can drive people to do when feeling as though they face no alternative to achieve this ‘requirement’ — so I’m left a little confused as to why we glamourise the grit? I’m not talking about the pink bows, the shrugs and the leg warmers. I’m talking about the frame in which they have to fit. The aesthetic wasn’t intended to be pink, but intended to be perfection. Backstage wasn’t always the glamourous girlhood we now have access to see, but another hidden exploitative pool of young girls. Some background on backstag...