Wannabe Ballerina Mothers

Frustrated-ballerina-mothers are so common in the world of ballet, and what they want is to project their own dreams through their daughters. This kind of mothers is vividly represented in ‘Black Swan’ as well as in the american movie ‘Center Stage’. In both movies we have mothers who desired to be dancers and for different circumstances of life had to leave aside their dream, but are not willing to see it fade away in their daughters, not really questioning themselves about what they may want. In ‘Black Swan’,  Nina´s mother gave away her chance to shine after getting pregnant, but intends to live her dream by overcontrolling every single bit of her already grown up daughter’s life, leading her to a pathological state of  mental insanity.

In the movie ‘Center Stage’, Maureen, one of the best dancers in her company, suffers from anorexia. Her mother is also a frustrated dancer, because of lack of physical conditions required to be a dancer. Maureen’s mother is very involved in the company, spending a great amout of time there working as a secretary, and is often controlling her daughter who has no particular love towards ballet and would rather have a normal life, with friends and studies. After an emotional break down at the end of the film, Maureen reveals her truth; 

“It's your dream... and it means more to you than it ever did to me. (…) That's what ballet would be... a life of wishing that I found something I loved, instead of something I just happened to do well. I'm not you, Mom. You didn't have the feet. I don't have the heart.”