9 July 2026

We are used to hearing about sexism and the difficulties which girls and women face in trying to achieve equality  with men in education, sport and workplace. What is sometimes overlooked are the difficulties which boys face in the arts and, in particular, dance.

There was an article in the ‘Sunday Times’ about the Billy Elliot effect and whether it has had a lasting impact on boys who are keen to become ballet dancers.        Whilst there is still prejudice against boys becoming ballet dancers, the landscape has changed.

When the auditions were being held for the original Billy Elliott film, only one out of hundreds of boys who showed up for the audition was a ballet dancer. For the stage revival this year, it was a completely different story because of the attention paid to boys following the film in 2000.

When our younger son was at the music school at Douglas Academy, he got to know the ballet students at Knightswood. At his initiative, we went to their end of year show at the Kings Theatre, Glasgow. I will never forget the performance of the second year boys.

They had choreographed their own ballet on the theme of football. They were all footballers transforming the football game into a ballet dance. I was immediately struck by the similarities between the athleticism of ballet dancers and footballers. They both need to be physically strong and elegant in their skilful movement.

Illia Bondarenko is 13 and from Ukraine. In his interview, the young ballet dancer  said, ‘Sometimes I’ve had enough. I’m fed up! But then you feel you can progress, do more. You’re a better person than you were yesterday – and your world sparkles!’