Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – The Performing Arts: Dance & Movement 4

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four teenagers discussing the unfair stereotypes and gender biases they face as young men practicing ballet.

For questions 1-10, choose from the people/sections (A-D). The people/sections may be chosen more than once.

Which person/section

1   regrets concealing their passion for so long?

2   draws a comparison between ballet and a mainstream athletic activity?

3   highlights the expectation to constantly display strength on stage?

4   initially anticipated a negative reaction from their relatives?

5   mentions finding encouragement from a virtual network?

6   is annoyed by an assumption regarding their reasons for taking up the activity?

7   was motivated by the guidance of an older dancer?

8   uses the physical challenges of the activity to silence their critics?

9   admits they altered their artistic expression to avoid criticism?

10   points out that the public mistakenly views the art form as effortless?

Defying Gravity and Stereotypes: Boys in Ballet

A Leo

Whenever I tell classmates I do ballet, I usually get a raised eyebrow or a sarcastic comment. To cope with the relentless teasing, I used to let my dancing speak for itself. Whenever someone mocks the tights or the classical music, I simply challenge them to join me for a two-hour rehearsal. By the time we’ve finished jumping and doing intensive core work, they are usually completely out of breath. Using the sheer physical agony of the discipline is my favourite way to shut down anyone who claims it’s just ‘prancing about’. Still, being the only boy in a local studio can feel incredibly isolating. Fortunately, I stumbled upon a fantastic social media group dedicated to male dancers worldwide. Being able to swap stories and share advice with guys facing the exact same prejudices has been an absolute lifesaver. It’s given me a thick skin and the resilience to bounce back from any ignorant remarks I hear at school.

B Sam

For the better part of three years, my ballet shoes were a closely guarded secret. I was terrified of being labelled as overly sensitive or weak by my schoolmates, so I routinely fabricated stories about attending martial arts classes instead. Looking back, I really wish I hadn’t wasted so much energy pretending to be someone I wasn’t. Hiding my true self was far more exhausting than the dancing itself! My biggest hurdle was actually coming clean to my dad and brothers. I had thoroughly convinced myself they would be disappointed, or at the very least, confused by my choice. Much to my amazement, they couldn’t have been more supportive and haven’t missed a single performance since. Letting go of that underlying dread has allowed me to focus entirely on my technique. While the outdated stereotypes still exist in society, I’ve finally come to terms with the fact that my identity isn’t defined by the narrow expectations of others.

C Julian

There’s a ridiculous myth that boys only sign up for ballet because it’s a room full of girls. Honestly, nothing winds me up more than having my dedication reduced to a tired cliché. I train six days a week, pushing my body to its absolute limits, simply because I am deeply passionate about the art form. Furthermore, the general public seems to suffer from the delusion that ballet is somewhat undemanding. They see the graceful, fluid movements on stage and automatically assume it requires zero exertion. In reality, the stamina and muscular control needed rival any professional sport. I often tell people that lifting a dancer above your head while making it look weightless takes just as much explosive power as a rugby player sprinting down the pitch. If more people understood the sheer athleticism involved, perhaps we wouldn’t have to constantly justify our presence in the studio.

D Max

One of the most frustrating biases I face as a male dancer is the pressure to be excessively masculine during performances. Choreographers often expect us to execute aggressive leaps and powerful lifts, subtly discouraging us from expressing any delicate emotions. For a long time, I intentionally adjusted my own style, suppressing my natural fluidity just to fit into this rigid, traditional mould. I was so anxious about being judged that I compromised my own artistry. My perspective completely shifted when I started taking workshops with a retired male soloist. He taught me that genuine strength lies in vulnerability and encouraged me to embrace the more lyrical, expressive side of the choreography. Having a mentor who had successfully navigated these exact same industry biases gave me the confidence to break the rules. I now realise that true artistic freedom means rejecting the absurd notion that male dancers must constantly prove their toughness on stage.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four individuals reviewing the physical rehabilitation process and the mental anguish of recovering from a severe dance injury.

For questions 1-10, choose from the people/sections (A-D). The people/sections may be chosen more than once.

Which person/section

1   mentions deliberately avoiding watching performances to protect their emotional state?

2   felt that the repetitive nature of their recovery exercises was incredibly boring?

3   admits that trying to accelerate their recovery ultimately made things worse?

4   experienced a profound loss of personal identity when they could no longer perform?

5   expresses gratitude for the emotional reassurance provided by a healthcare specialist?

6   discovered a new artistic passion while unable to engage in physical activity?

7   highlights the difficulty of having to master the absolute basics of movement again?

8   initially believed their physical problem was less serious than it actually was?

9   felt a growing sense of detachment from their circle of friends in the dance world?

10   accepts that the physical trauma has permanently altered their future professional path?

The Road to Recovery: Dancers on Bouncing Back from Injury

A Elena

When my Achilles tendon snapped mid-jump, my entire world collapsed in an instant. I had spent fifteen gruelling years defining myself exclusively through ballet; without my demanding training schedule, I suffered a profound identity crisis, wondering who I actually was without my pointe shoes. The mental toll of feeling utterly purposeless was far worse than the excruciating physical pain of the injury itself. Desperate to get back on stage and reclaim my former life, I foolishly ignored my surgeon’s strict advice and tried to accelerate my physical therapy. Unfortunately, attempting complex calf stretches far too early caused a secondary tear, setting my progress back by an additional four months. It was a bitter pill to swallow, and I was furious with myself. I ultimately had to come to terms with the harsh reality that bodily healing simply cannot be hurried, no matter how highly motivated you are.

B Julian

I initially brushed off the sharp, shooting pain in my knee as a minor sprain, assuming it was something I could easily power through with an ice pack and some painkillers. By the time I finally sought professional medical help, the joint was severely damaged, requiring immediate and invasive surgery. Waking up post-operation, the grim reality of the situation hit me like a ton of bricks. The physical rehabilitation was incredibly humbling. For a contemporary dancer accustomed to soaring effortlessly across vast stages, being forced to spend weeks merely relearning how to bend my knee and place my foot flat on the floor was agonizing. The utter helplessness frequently reduced me to tears. Ultimately, the ordeal forced me to completely re-evaluate my long-term ambitions. Knowing my knee will never handle the explosive, repetitive jumps it used to, I’ve accepted that my days as a lead performer are over. Instead, I am now studying to be a choreographer.

C Maya

Recovering from a shattered ankle is a painstakingly slow and disheartening process. To preserve my fragile mental health, I had to completely disconnect from the local street dance scene. Seeing my crew posting videos of their latest battles on social media was simply too heartbreaking, so I temporarily deactivated my accounts and deliberately steered clear of any live showcases to avoid the sting of jealousy. Physically, the rehabilitation was completely mind-numbing. Instead of the dynamic, high-energy routines I thrived on, I was stuck doing endless, monotonous sets of resistance band stretches and basic toe curls. It felt like watching paint dry. I genuinely don’t think I would have made it through the darkest days without my physiotherapist, Sarah. She did far more than just manipulate my stiff joints; she patiently listened to my endless rants and provided the vital psychological encouragement I desperately needed whenever I was ready to throw in the towel.

D Leo

A severe lower back injury completely grounded me for almost a year. The mental anguish was intense, primarily because I suddenly found myself on the outside looking in. My dance academy friends were very supportive at first, but their daily lives naturally revolved around intense rehearsals and upcoming theatre shows that I couldn’t participate in. Inevitably, we drifted apart, and that growing social disconnect left me feeling incredibly isolated and forgotten. Since my mobility was severely restricted, I desperately needed to channel my pent-up frustration somewhere. On a whim, I picked up a digital camera and started experimenting with landscape photography. It was an absolute revelation; capturing still images gave me a fresh, exciting way to express my creativity without risking further damage to my spine. While I eventually bounced back and returned to jazz dancing, photography remains a vital part of my life, proving that I am more than just my physical abilities.

Exercises:   123456