Dancing Boys and Men: Negotiating Masculinity and Sexuality

Theatrical dance remains widely perceived as an unconventional activity for boys and young men in many Western contexts. This chapter focuses on professional male dancers’ pathways into recreational, pre-professional dance and assesses the various obstacles encountered and the sources of encouragement available to continue dancing and to pursue a dance career. Data analysis challenges the assumption that homophobia and hierarchies among boys, men, and masculinities have been erased. The chapter argues that wider systems of inequality, oppression, and power persist. These continue to affect boys and young men, influencing their choices and the possibilities to transgress gender norms.

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-90000-7_5