Update!
See Alex Wong’s post of 300 dancers joining Fabrice Calmels, Robbie Fairchild and Travis Wall for a ballet class outside “Good Morning America” yesterday.
Update!
The dance world spoke, Lara Spencer listened: The “Good Morning America” host apologized on-air this morning for her insensitive comments about Prince George’s love of ballet. See this interview with Robbie Fairchild, the NYC Ballet Principal (and spouse of NYC Ballet star Tiler Peck), Broadway star, and cast member of the upcoming movie of Cats; 9 time Emmy nominee Travis Wall; and Fabrice Calmels, Principal Dancer with the Joffrey Ballet.
When news broke that Prince George, currently third in line for the British throne, would be continuing ballet classes, Good Morning America host Lara Spencer, mocked the 6-year-old’s interest in ballet classes, reporting that, “Prince William says he absolutely LOVES ballet,” and then commenting, “I’ve have news for you, Prince William, we’ll see how long that lasts.”
The dance community is stepping up to remind her that #boysdancetoo. Ballet stars have flocked to social media to share their support for Prince George and all boys who dance and to demand an apology for Spencer’s comments. There is an online petition asking that “GMA” produce a segment about the benefits of ballet training for young men. Former New York City Ballet star Robbie Fairchild and The Washington Ballet, are courtesy of CSD Alumna Alex Wong.
DANCE magazine‘s Courtney Escoyne writes: “I could extoll the numerous benefits that dance training has for any human being, not to mention one who is going to grow up to be a head of state. I could point to the physical upsides, the positive effects dancing has on mental and emotional health, the long-reaching benefits of the discipline and focus it requires, and, perhaps most significantly, the way dance training imparts the value of empathy…. A grown woman bullying a 6-year-old child. On national television. To laughter and applause. If that seems okay to you, I would recommend finding your nearest dance studio and enrolling in an open class, because your empathy could use a serious tune-up.”