A Feminist Ballerina On A Mission To Change Classical Ballet

Ashley Bouder isn’t OK with how few women get to choreograph, or become company directors, in the world of ballet. So the City Ballet principal is trying to change that through her own company, in her free time. But it’s not necessarily easy: “Ballet is both a largely nonverbal art form and one that prizes conformity. ‘We’re used to being told to shut up and get in line and point your foot and turn out,’ Ms. Bouder said, noting that this pressure tends to weigh more heavily on women, who are more easily replaced than men.”