Can classical ballet be feminist?

The semester is lightening up a bit, so I actually had a chance to treat myself to the movies. And what do I decide to see? Not a family or magical Christmas movie. No, no! In this reprieve from my mentally taxing work, I see a psychological thriller.

Black Swan was indeed a visually stunning mind-bend, though with a conceptual vision that was interpreted too literally for my taste. I have read many reviews and critiques of the movie from various perspectives (the latter makes an interesting point about the virgin/whore dichotomy), but one stood out in my mind (though this one is not the most harsh; there are others that make similar arguments). Apparently, the ballet world is rightfully dissatisfied with the way that dancers are portrayed in movies: obsessive, perfectionistic, rigid, with overbearing mothers, disordered eating, and general self-esteem issues. And I know movie producers focus on those qualities of dancers because they are such a stark contrast to the light, flowey, effortless movements of ballet we are all used to. But whether or not dancers have as horrible of lives in reality as they do in the movies, it still got me wondering if classical ballet is essentially unfeminist, and if I should even support it.

As a Russian from St. Petersburg, this is hard to reconcile. I've been brought up to appreciate the art and beauty of ballet. I myself have danced for ages, and completely understand the therapy in movement. But I also realize that the whole premise of classical ballet is for women to look weightless and graceful, and to sacrifice their feet and bodies for our entertainment. The female characters in classical ballets (Swan Lake, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, Romeo and Juliet) are often helpless, tragic, and die at the end. Their whole role is to flutter in, look pretty and then disappear.

I don't know. One could say that the bodily wear-and-tear comes with the job of any athlete. And there are still plenty of modern ballets of a more egalitarian nature, with men and women playing equally as strong and graceful characters. But still, maybe now I will think twice before purchasing those tickets to the Mariinsky Theater.