written by Tom  on 23.07. at 17:24:30

This topic has come up recently on alt.arts.ballet, & the consensusthere is that one may still be physically attacked if it's knownthat you do ballet.  Eddie Villella used to get, & give, black eyes& bloody noses when he was a boy, & the situation hasn't changedgreatly in the last half-century.  Adolescent boys can be very insecure sexually, & they are likely to vent this insecurity onanyone they perceive as insufficiently masculine.  Not nice, butunfortunately still all too prevalent.

Ballet plus martial arts would be artistically good & good forpurposes of self-defense as well.  I'd go for it.

Tom Parsons

• http://www.panix.com/~twp" target=_top>Tom's Page

• Ami! Listen to Tom! But do as you feel appropriate. - balletboy - 24.07. 05:04:46