Abstract:
The present research focuses on community dancers’ meanings of ballet. The research question is: What are community dancers’ meanings of ballet? The aim of the research is to explore how ballet might become more inclusive and diverse, and encourage people, such as community dancers, to engage with ballet. This research was conducted within a qualitative paradigm. Post-positivist research and grounded theory have been utilised as the theoretical framework for exploring the community dancers’ meanings of ballet. Through conducting in-depth semi-structured interviews, key themes surrounding the meanings of ballet of community dancers have been uncovered. The research has found three key findings: ballet means ‘high’ art for the participants. Ballet means having expertise. Ballet’s meanings are informed by assumptions and stereotypes. These findings are mainly from community dancers’ assumptions and stereotypes of ballet, such as ballet requires pointe shoes, a particular female body, and costumes. Engagement with ballet requires ballet expert teachers, ballet studios and money, and a certain expertise in music and ballet movements. This research found that community dancers’ expectations and requirements of ballet class, such as creativity and self-expression. This research also found that community dancers’ meanings of ballet were influenced by media and ballet resources.