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Leading abuse lawyer calls for urgent meeting with Culture Secretary following ballet body shaming allegations

Abuse lawyer Dino Nocivelli has formally requested a meeting with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy, following multiple allegations of body shaming abuse within England’s top ballet schools.

Posted on 30 January 2025

In an email sent earlier this month, Dino highlighted the experiences of ballet dancers who claim to have suffered from body shaming at the hands of their teachers, leading to lifelong consequences. His email references the 2023 BBC investigation that exposed the widespread and serious nature of the issue within the ballet world. 

In an email sent to Lisa Nandy on 6 January 2025, Dino wrote: 

“I write further to your recent meeting with the Culture, Media and Sport Committee where you spoke about questions of behaviour in creative industries and cultures of silence. I represent a number of ballet dancers from top ballet schools in England who have suffered body shaming abuse by their teachers resulting in life-long consequences. The BBC investigation in 2023 revealed the scale and seriousness of the issue within ballet and dance, and was covered by Panorama, BBC News and Woman’s Hour. 

“For those who have sadly suffered, many feel unable to speak out or disclose the full extent of the abuse due to the potential impact it may have on their careers and fear of stigma and shame. My clients strongly believe the culture in the ballet world needs to change and that more must be done to safeguard the wellbeing of students and allow them to be heard. I would like to please request a meeting with you to discuss this issue and how we can take this forward.” 

This request follows a recent legal settlement involving former ballet student Ellen Elphick against the Royal Ballet School, in which she was represented by Dino.  

Ellen, who attended the school until she was 19, alleged she suffered persistent body shaming during her training, which contributed to her development of anorexia and body dysmorphia.  

Her experiences included being forced to stand in front of a mirror while a teacher criticized her body, being poked without consent, and having her weight loss publicly celebrated. The emotional and psychological toll of these practices ultimately ended her aspirations of a dance career. 

Despite the Royal Ballet School denying liability, the case marks an important step in acknowledging the damage caused by body shaming in professional dance institutions. 

Dino, who has represented other former ballet dancers who suffered abuse, previously appealed for information, asking that anyone who witnessed or experienced abuse taking place at schools to get in touch.  

Dino said: 

“It is crucial that we bring this issue to the highest levels of government. The culture of silence and fear in the ballet industry must be broken, and the experiences of these brave dancers must be acknowledged. I urge Lisa Nandy to meet with us and help drive forward the necessary changes to protect future generations from suffering similar harm.” 

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