A recent controversy has surrounded Oscar Award winning actor, Timothée Chalamet. Earlier this year, Chalamet was interviewed alongside Matthew McConaughey for Variety and CNN. During the conversations, Chalamet made claims that “no one cares” about traditional forms of performing arts such as ballet.
These comments sparked instant controversy within specific communities such as the ballet community, and larger swaths of the public who had known of Chalamet’s previous works. To many, the statement felt dismissive and careless of dancers who have spent years honing their craft, as well as the rich history of ballet and other long standing art forms. It discredits the work, history and meaning behind the dance.
Dancers within the Pleasant Valley student body are among the people outraged by Chalamet’s comments. Bridgette Dotson, a senior at Pleasant Valley, has been dancing ballet since she was four years old. Dotson said the comment “felt dismissive of an art form that requires immense discipline, history, and emotional depth.” For her, ballet is not just about performance, it is years of emotional expression and immense dedication.
Dotson also pointed out the impact that influential figures and celebrities can have on public opinion. “People often look to celebrities to form opinions… and statements like his can convince people of the idea that ballet is outdated or unimportant,” she said. However, she believes that the backlash itself proves otherwise, adding that “…people do care, deeply, and they’re willing to defend something they love,” she said. For Dotson, and many others, ballet is not an art that is dying out. It is an art form that continues to take on new life.
Avalon Anderson, another Pleasant Valley senior and ballerina for the Family Museum Dance Company, shared a similar perspective. “Ballet is constantly changing to better fit newer generations. Saying nobody cares overlooks the entire community, the entire community of dancers, audiences, and creators who are keeping it alive,” said Anderson. Her perspective highlights the growing and continued interest from both performers and viewers.
Both dancers emphasize ballet’s long history and importance in culture and art. Dotson explains, “…it is an art form that has survived centuries of cultural shifts… that kind of longevity doesn’t happen unless something has real value.”
Ultimately, the backlash surrounding Chalamet’s comments reveal a larger issue within how arts are appreciated. The beauty of art is that it is subjective, and it means different things to different people. Much like the fluid motions a ballerina takes on, ballet itself is constantly moving, evolving, and impacting newer generations differently. That is why it has prevailed over thousands of years:it inspires and connects people.
