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The Dark Side of Ballet

Hayley Hassall investigates accusations of bullying and body-shaming at some of the UK鈥檚 elite ballet schools.

Hayley Hassall investigates accusations of bullying and body-shaming at some of the UK鈥檚 elite ballet schools. File on 4 and Panorama have spoken to more than 50 ex-students of the Royal Ballet School and Elmhurst Ballet School who attended between 2004 and 2022. Many described developing eating disorders, while some said they had been left with mental health problems. One retired ballerina File on 4 has spoken to has begun legal action against the Royal Ballet School for the treatment she says she suffered there. The two ballet schools dispute the accounts given to the 大象传媒 and say they are working hard to change the culture, and put health and wellbeing at the forefront of their priorities

Reporter: Hayley Hassall
Producer: Paul Grant
Editors: Carl Johnston and Clare Fordham

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37 minutes

Broadcasts

  • Tue 12 Sep 2023 20:00
  • Sun 17 Sep 2023 17:00

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