Dear Dancebelt Community,

For male dancers, everything changed in the year 2000. That was when Billy Elliott, a British film about a working class miner’s son pursuing his passion for dance was first released.  The film received positive critical response, became a hit, and was nominated for three Academy Awards. In its wake, boys, previously afraid to tackle the stereotyping and social opprobrium attached to being a male ballet dancer, suddenly started showing up at dance studio doors. Ballet may not have quite reached the status of cool, but it became more acceptable to be a dancer. The dance studio/company where I danced and taught went from having one or two token boys, to having six or more male ballet students on a regular basis. 

And none of them knew how to put on tights or understood the necessity of wearing a dance belt under them.

Somehow it fell on me to educate new students on the ins and outs of ballet clothes. A certain amount of technique is needed to wear a dance belt. But penis positioning is not a topic you can just casually bring up with someone you met twenty minutes ago.  

The answer was to write an instruction manual. And that’s how Dr. Dancebelt’s Guide was born.  

After a couple of years being handed out as a printed page, several mothers of male dance students, grateful for my advice, urged me to broadcast The Guide to a wider audience as a web page on the then-new internet.  Over the years new pages were added and Dr. Dancebelt’s Guide became THE source for dance belt information.

What an incredible journey it’s been! For years, the website has served as a resource for dancers, families, and ballet enthusiasts. It has been an honor to share your passion for this beautiful art form.

However, the time has come to pass the torch. I’m thrilled to announce that the Ballet Help Desk will be taking over the Dancebelt website, continuing the mission of providing valuable information and guidance to dancers of all levels. Ballet Help Desk is well-equipped to build upon what we’ve created together, and I do not doubt that they’ll bring fresh insights and expanded resources to help you navigate the world of ballet training.

Thank you for being a part of this community. It’s been a great run, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the support, questions, and shared experiences over the years.

Here’s to the future—keep dancing, striving, and keeping the love for ballet alive.

With gratitude,

Dr. Dancebelt