The Dark Side of Ballet Schools
Some students who'd won places at the country's most prestigious institutions say they were pushed beyond their limits.
On the outside, Ellen looked like a total success story in ballet. Dancing since she was practically a toddler, she went through rigorous auditions and won a place at a prestigious school at the age of 11. It was a remarkable achievement, because places are very competitive and only a small number of the hundreds of who apply each year are successful. But then the hard work really began.
There were around five to six hours of dance and fitness classes a day, and four hours of the usual lessons too. Ellen was already struggling with disordered eating when she arrived in 2009, and says the way her teachers treated her made it worse, leaving her ashamed of her weight and body shape.
In this episode of the 5 Minutes On podcast, the 大象传媒's Hayley Hassall hears Ellen's story. (Image: 大象传媒)
