The Royal Ballet School (RBS) has come to a financial agreement with a former pupil who claims that the body-shaming she endured during her time at the prestigious institution has resulted in enduring psychological harm.
Ellen Elphick, now 31, argued that the London-based school failed in its duty of care while she was enrolled from 2009 to 2012.
While the school stated it accepts no responsibility for Ellen’s claims and has refrained from issuing an apology, an RBS representative said, “We are pleased both parties could come to a mutually acceptable resolution, and we wish Ellen and her family all the best moving forward.” They also emphasized that the welfare of the students remains a top priority.
In an interview with the BBC last year, Ellen recounted a humiliating experience when she was just 16. Only two weeks into her training, a teacher visibly traced a line around her figure in front of a mirror and remarked, “If I had a knife, this is what I would cut off.”
This comment instilled deep shame within Ellen and worsened her struggles with eating disorders, ultimately leading to a diagnosis of atypical anorexia and body dysmorphia. She indicated that similar remarks from various teachers contributed to a decline in her self-esteem and intensified her eating issues.
“This settlement emphasizes the mistreatment that dancers have faced and the urgent need for reform,” stated Dino Nocivelli from Leigh Day solicitors, who has been advocating for Ellen. “We continue to call for a governmental investigation into body-shaming within ballet.”
Ellen was one of over 50 former dancers who described a persistent “toxic” environment of body-shaming and bullying present in some of the UK’s top ballet schools to the BBC. She pursued legal action primarily to shed light on the detrimental effects of body-shaming in ballet, although the specifics of her settlement have not been made public.
“It wasn’t about the financial compensation,” she stated. “It was about raising awareness about the true experience of being a ballerina and illustrating that what I went through was unacceptable.”
Despite feeling a sense of validation from the settlement, Ellen conveyed disappointment over the absence of an apology from RBS. “Their inability to even say ‘sorry’ indicates there is still much work to be done,” she remarked.
Now a mother herself, she has vowed to protect her daughter from the ballet world, asserting she would “never” enroll her in ballet classes. However, Ellen remains hopeful that her case will inspire significant changes within ballet schools, leading to a focus on students’ mental health and educating teachers on the effect their words can have.
“RBS must take the lead in demonstrating that health and well-being are just as important as the art of dance,” she asserted. “Children deserve the opportunity to engage in dance without emerging feeling harmed.”
