Genetic discrimination?

Yes, and this is the one of the major reason why I've decided not to have a career in the ballet world after I quit my company.

You'd see this very clearly in Balanchine's choreography, both the choreography and the interpretations by the dancers who danced them. The emphasis was rarely about the creative artistic expressions but the lines, the legs, the pointe, and the arches.

Unfortunately a lot of artistic directors nowadays in the ballet companies descended from NYCB from the previous generations. I cannot help but sensed the bias that they carry.

And I wouldn't say the situation in Europe is necessarily better. Some companies have requirement that their male dancer must be taller than 180cm.

From my observation (as an Asian), the ballet culture is so stiff and always tend to converge to a point which the upper management just stereotype each person's role in a company. A lot of time these are genetic reasons.

Anyway, if you ever found out you are stuck in a ballet company, better move on quick. At least for me, life is too short to be stuck at a ballet company.

/r/BALLET Thread