WILLAMSVILLE, N.Y. (WKBW) — There are a lot of stigmas regarding boys and ballet. Joseph Cipolla, owner of Configuration Dance Theatre and School of Ballet in Williamsville believes people see it as an "effeminate art form."
"Boys put up with a lot of ribbing for being in ballet," Cipolla said.
At Configuration Dance Theatre and School of Ballet in Williamsville, there are only five boys signed up for ballet.
"I'm really pleased with that number, but when compared to the overall enrollment that we have, it's not as good as I would like it to be," Cipolla said.
Configuration Dance has a total of 200 dancers between two studios meaning only 2.5 percent of those dancers are boys.
"There's a stigma of men and sports and unfortunately how dance doesn't correlate to a male being an athlete," instructor Dominic Giambra said.
But, in places like England, there is a lot more legitimacy to the art form. Headlines even show that boys are outnumbering girls in ballet. Cipolla says this is because overseas, citizens are more exposed to the art form.
But, despite the lack of representation on the big screen, Giambra suggests another way to give boys exposure.
"Brothers come into studios and watch their sisters and try to just continue the awareness," he said.
Cipolla encourages all parents to at least let their kid try a dance class.
"Believe me, kids will know whether that's something they want to continue and pursue," he said.
