#BoysDanceToo Movement
It all started when…
On Thursday, August 22, 2019 a seemingly innocent segment on Good Morning America went viral in the dance and arts community around the world. Host Lara Spencer made off-handed comments about the UK’s Prince George taking ballet classes as part of his education.
Almost immediately male dancers, allies, and supporters jumped into action and began calling for action. A Change.org petition was started and in the course of only a few days had garnered over 40,000 signatures. On Monday, August 26, 2019, Spencer and GMA issued an apology meeting the demands of the petition and produced a segment on the benefits of dance education, especially for young men.
Please sign up to stay up-to-date on efforts to fight the stigma against men and boys in dance and sign the petition to call on Congress to make August 23rd #BoysDanceToo Day to mark the celebration of the transformative power of dance education for young men.
Original Petition Posted on August 23, 2019
Good Morning America host, Lara Spencer, recently covered the academic interests of the United Kingdom’s future prince, George, which included the study of poetry and ballet. Along with her co-hosts, she mocked and laughed at the young man’s interest in the dance form, perpetuating a maligned stigma against men in dance. In actuality, the benefits of the study of dance on young people have been clear for decades.
Often times this gender-focused stigma against men in dance, perpetuates a culture of bullying and intimidation against young men who engage in the art form. This especially affects intersectional young men, specifically young men of color and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Yet, the research shows that when young people engage in dance as part of their formal or informal education, they benefit greatly in school, in work, and in life. Young people who study dance are more likely to achieve academically including seeing benefits in raised test scores and lowered drop out rates. Additionally, they develop enhanced capabilities of grit, perseverance, collaboration, and creativity.
Recognizing the benefit of excellent journalism and the pervasiveness of media in society today, we do not simply call for an apology on behalf of Lara Spencer, Good Morning America, and ABC, but rather we wish to see a future segment focus be on the benefits of dance education on young people, especially men and boys.
We imagine that such a segment will highlight the benefits of dance to young men who participate, especially those who face challenges of bullying and the stigmatization of their passion. Often times, we see that those young men turn out to be the leaders of tomorrow in the arts, in business, in government, and among their peers in their communities. We hope to see these stories shared rather than an antiquated joke predicated on archaic and biased attitudes.
Victory Declared on September 4, 2019
Hi all,
I hope this email finds you well. I am writing today to declare victoryon this petition as Good Morning America and Lara Spencer have both apologized and produced a segment highlighting the positive benefits of a dance education for young men. Watch it here.
First, I would like to thank the over 40,000 signatories of this petitionfor lending your voices to support boys in dance. Our collective effort has coalesced the entire field of dance and the arts to illuminate incredible stories of the transformative power of dance on the lives of young men. It was a truly magical effort over the course of just a few short days. I would encourage everyone to go on social media and check out #BoysDanceToo.
Secondly I would like to ask that you take three additional actions:
Please stay up-to-date with efforts to support the #BoysDanceToo movementby signing up with your email here.Managed by Creative Generation, a short agenda of activities has been articulated to keep the positive going about this work.
If you are in the U.S., please join us in calling on Congressto name August 23 as #BoysDanceToo Dayto celebrate the role of boys and men in dance. Annually, our field can come together to celebrate the transformative power of dance in the lives of boys and men. More to come on this effort, so please sign up.
In collaboration with the National Dance Education Organization, donations are being collectedto support dance educators particularly men and those who work with young men through their regular work advocating for dance education in the United States. You can donate to this cause here.
I should also mention the heinous attack on our field by the host and guests of Fox News' Laura Ingraham show which came out shortly after our petitions success. (Read the article here). As a grassroots organizer I know full well that this type of effort will have little to no effect on such an establishment as Fox News, so we will not be launching a second petition to this effect but rather I would encourage any supporters to write them directly with any thoughts about their segment on this topic here.
Lastly, there have been a number of incredible stories about our efforts and I have collected many below for your reading pleasure. Please continue to spread the word and encourage others to get involved to change the stigma against young men pursuing dance.
Thank you.
Jeff