Ballerinas Pimped Out to Rich Patrons at Russian Theater, Claims Former Dancer
Anastasia Volochkova, who became infamous in the world of ballet as the "fat ballerina," has accused a Russian theater of pimping out its ballerinas.
The Bolshoi Ballet is one of the oldest and most renowned companies in the world. It also became a source of controversy in 2003 after firing award-winning dancer Anastasia Volochkova for being too heavy. At 5'6" Volochkova weighed around 109 pounds. She was deemed the "fat ballerina."
But now Volochkova is making a new claim. According to her, the Bolshoi company has turned "into a giant brothel."
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"It mainly happened with the corps du ballet but also with the soloists," she said during a radio interview with the Russian News Service.
Volochkova, who has said before that the drama of the Black Swan is nothing in comparison to what goes on behind the curtain of a ballet company, went on to accuse the famous Russian ballet company of forcing dancers to sleep with top patrons.
"10 years ago, when I was dancing at the theatre, I repeatedly received such propositions to share the beds of oligarchs," she said. "The girls were forced to go along to grand dinners and given advance warning that afterwards they would be expected to go to bed and have sex."
If the dancers did not oblige, their position with the company was threatened.
"When the girls asked: 'What happens if we refuse?' they were told that they would not go on tour or even perform at the Bolshoi theatre," she explained. "Can you imagine?"
The theater's general director, Anatoly Iksanov, dismissed the claims as "ravings."
"I don't comment on dirt and ravings," he said during a news conference, according to BBC.
Since losing her position in 2003, Volochkova has attempted a solo career bolster by television appearances. Her act, however, has failed to be a large success.
