Classical ballet training in Brazil: perceptions on the new ways of education and the unstable market for dancers from a specific context

Abstract

The research aimed to investigate a ballet training institution and identify pedagogical characteristics. The approach was made through direct observation and interviews with teachers and dancers. It was noticed concern with the image of authoritarianism linked to this environment by teachers and, in the dancers' speeches, the existence of marks of suffering caused by the perception that their efforts may not be enough to achieve success. It was identified that there is a transition between the authoritarian teacher and the educator. In addition, the teachers demonstrated to understand that the classical ballet market in Brazil is small and, therefore, they identified that the pedagogies must also work with broader social and professional values ??and capacities. This proved to be even more prevalent in relation to boys, who come from low socioeconomic classes, start specialization late and usually need to leave when the professional decision phase arrives.