Yes, I agree. It's unhealthy for the art form. Many churches end up with a similar demographic as well: 90% women, but always men up front.

And libraries...

You make a good point beatbeat. It cracks me up when men teach pointe class. I understand that they may not have a female on the staff to teach the class, but, then shouldn't they have a female on the staff to teach the class?

Actually I know of one teacher who has always taught a very good pointe class, who was told by his wife (also a dancer and teacher) that he could not teach pointe class until he had tried to do all those things on pointe himself!

Librarians, Toba?

In defense of men teaching pointe classes, I had an excellent male teacher who taught pointe classes. (My first year, though, was with a woman teacher.) I'm pretty sure this man hadn't worked on pointe himself, but he knew how to teach it. I also know of some excellent gymnastics coaches who can't do the tricks they teach, but they know how to teach them and how to spot them.

I have to say that I know of one male dancer/teacher who could put all of us company girls to shame with his gorgeous feet and complete command of point work. I would have killed for those feet and legs.

And are there women that teach men's class, jumping class or whatever it is they have...?

Oh, I'm not saying there aren't men who teach a good pointe class. I happen to study with one. However, it still cracks me up. And I've never seen a woman teach men's class (although I've seen women take men's class, just as men take pointe occasionally.) I remember reading someplace that Maya Plisetskaya used to always take men's with her uncle Asaf Messerer.

I have heard tell that Laura Alonso teaches a killer men's class and is (because she's an American citizen, having been born here) available to teach it anywhere in the U.S.

Yes, Librarian, librarians! You are not the only biblioballetomane in this thread.

Ann Marie De'Angelo from Joffery used to take men's class and was amazing. She also used to take center en pointe. She could do anything.

Yes, and she took over one of the principal men's roles (I forget whose) in Viva Vivaldi. She did the actual men's choreography, complete with double tour to the knee and multiple tours a la seconde, and she did all the turns on pointe.

<small>[ 02 May 2003, 05:22 PM: Message edited by: djb ]</small>

Guys are always up for a challenge. And DJB, I'd say that counts...

HEADLINE: Ballet draws unusually high male interest

More from the Chronicle

<small>[ 04 May 2003, 04:04 PM: Message edited by: salzberg ]</small>

I remember watching Susan Farrell takes the Boys' Class at SAB, taught by Stanley Williams, and was very impressed by this.

My very first, male ballet teacher, William Earl, taught pointe and reported to us that he had done it himself. As he said, "It's good for some things!"

Tatiana Grantzeva used to do the most amazing double tours en l'air and expected all of us to do the same!

I would like to say that Susan took Stanelys class not mens class. Stanely taught the mens class but it was a refinement class not grunt work class. I knew girls that did double tours all the time about 4 inches off the ground, until one day one didnt make it all the way around landed on her pointed foot and busted it in a few places and never danced again. I am not saying that you shouldnt try things like that, Lauren Anderson has some clean doubles. But to not take Mens technique serious is like not taking Womens technique serious, injury will occur. I guess what I am saying is just be careful if you want to cross gender train.