Taming Mean Girls (and Boys) in Competitive World of Arts

Bullying in the arts is not uncommon but it sometimes goes unseen.

Some local dance and drama teachers have decided to fight back, making bullying an act not tolerated in local arts programs. 

“I think there is something about the competitive nature of the dance field that brings out the less than admirable qualities of dancers,” said Michele Field, president of Tree of Life Theatre Troupe in Eldersburg.

Field had to step in recently during one of her troupe's productions to stop a case of bullying. Addressing the problem with a gentle reminder wasn’t enough. 

“We did a production that had a student that began exhibiting some unkind tendencies. We addressed it, but it escalated. The young lady that was the recipient of the mean remarks became visibly upset by the sly comments the other girl was making,” said Field.

The cast then entered tech week and was just days away from the big performance – yet the behavior continued. 

“While the character our ‘bully’ portrayed wasn't a major player in the storyline, she had some critical lines that needed to be said that couldn't really be given to another character,” said Field.

“After failed attempts to correct her behavior, we decided to cut her from the production just a couple days before opening night. I think she thought she was safe because we needed her.” 

According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, 32 percent of students in the United States ages 12 through 18 reported they were bullied at schools and around 3.7 percent reported they were cyber-bullied.

Drama Teacher Tony Cimino has witnessed bullying first-hand, sparking his attempts to educate his students through their passion for the arts.

“I think that bullying is a problem throughout the entire school. My drama III class in the spring will be writing, producing and performing a one-act play using interviews and questionnaires from our own school about bullying in order to address these very concerns,” said Cimino.

The piece will be titled “Bullied” and will be performed in May, he said.

As for bullying in the drama program itself, Cimino says his drama classes often back the students who are victims.   

“The drama program itself is a very safe place for the students here at Liberty High School. I don't see a lot of bullying in the drama program, but when there is, it's often the bully who is singled out, and the club rallies behind the one that is being bullied,” he said.

Field added that she sometimes sees teachers contribute to what she calls the "survival of the fittest" mentality.

She said, for example, when her oldest daughter was involved in a competitive dance team, one student missed too many rehearsals and the coach took the issue to the group, allowing students to vote the student off the team.

“The only trouble is, she didn't hide what she felt the result should be, so all the dancers that wanted to please the teacher and become closer to being a favorite voted accordingly," said Field.

Field's daughter voted to allow the girl to stay.

"My daughter ... was ostracized for not being a team player and voting like everyone else,” said Field.

“It's not the example we would want for our children if it were displayed honestly, but we cloak it in the term ‘competition’ and it somehow makes it alright,” she said.