Ballet history is littered with female superstars, but it has historically exploited women and girls, particularly in 19th century Paris. While women vastly outnumber men in ballet, men still hold the majority of positions of power within the field.
While this dynamic might feel new, surveying ballet history can provide an explanation for modern day power imbalances. The foyer de la danse was a backstage room that essentially served as a brothel. While other international ballets at the time had similar practices, the 19th century Paris Opera Ballet is one of the most noted cases of sexual exploitation in ballet history.
Paris was an art hub during this era, and ballerinas were often the centerpieces of Impressionist artwork. Edgar Degas , for example, created artworks that centered on the Paris Opera ballerina. While his work is often viewed as fantastical to a modern audience, a 19th-century audience would have picked up the dark figures looming among the ballerinas.
Soβwhat was Degas depicting? The Paris Opera Ballet is legendary within ballet history, making its exploitation of ballerinas legendary as well. In many ways, the decisions and practices of The Paris Opera Ballet ripple throughout ballet history to today; consequently, it is important to understand the historical context around such exploitation.
The Paris Opera Ballet is the oldest national ballet and arguably the most celebrated. From the s to the early s, the Paris Opera Ballet was the center of the ballet world. Even after Russia became the global ballet center in the s, the Paris Opera Ballet still enjoyed a crucial position in the entire dance industry.
