STORM2K

POSTED: 12:00 p.m. EDT September 17, 2003

MOSCOW -- Bolshoi literally means "big" in Russian. And it appears one of Russia's best-known ballerinas fit the bill a bit too much.

The Bolshoi Theater fired ballerina Anastasia Volochkova after some of her male counterparts complained she was too tall and too fat to lift.

Russian media reports say she's 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighs 106 pounds. The New York Times says she's actually an inch shorter, and she says she's 3 pounds heavier. But she said statements by the ballet that she's too big are "lies."

A ballet spokesman says the problem is rooted in the ballerina's skills, not her size. The Bolshoi's director general says he fired her after she refused to sign a proposed contract.

How would anyone get fired because they're too fat?

Hmmmmm? And we wonder why so many people suffer from eating disorders! Go figure......

That's sickening! 5'6'' and 106lbs! OMG!

And what makes them think 105-110 pounds is "FAT"?

I knew a young lady who was trained as a ballerina in the Soviet era, appearing with the Kirov Ballet before she defected in the late 70's.

The standard applied to her was no taller than 5'0", no heavier than 90 lbs. AT ANY TIME.

Thought things might have changed....I see that they haven't.

I sure want to gain weight. I weight 100 to 105 pounds.

I had a physical today [first one in nealy four years]. There wasn't much done. The doctor "only" asked me several questions.
Had blood drawn, though. :o Hopefully the result will be fine.

If she's fat at 105 lbs, what am I? LOL. She's probably better off without working for those people anyways.

It is of some interest to note that all of the former Soviet emigres refused to use the training they received from their former country...they didn't want their families to suffer due to claims that "The State gave them their gifts, which they are now using to enrich themselves".

One, a pianist, became a physician here; the ballerina mentioned re-educated herself for social work. I can't speak about others, but this seems to have been the pattern before the fall of the CCCP.

Being a ballet girl myself.. It is tough and let me tell you a very very hard occupation to have. If you are talented in the technique department, but dont have the build you are not going to look good, and you will not compliment your partner. I have been around many girls who are fantastic dancer's but just dont have the build... very rearly will you find a short basketball player... Its just the name of the game.. I am very fortunate I am 5'5 and weigh 94lbs, bordering on the tall side... When we are talking Bolshoi, this kind of action comes as no surprise for me.

Does this mean that male Russian ballet dancers
are...WOOSIES? 106 lbs of woman is...too heavy?
Hmmmm...they need to hang out with a few
American guys, for the weekend....

LOL Breeze.... Believe it or not those guys are super strong and have amazing bodies...There muscle development is increadable (ever seen a pair of legs like that in tights!)

Hey, Bron, just being the
silly critter than I am...and,
btw - it's good to SEE you, again!!

106 too fat to be a ballerina? That's another reason I cringe at my niece taking ballet lessons.

We nearly lost Becky twice to anorexia nervosa as a teenager...and I certainly don't want to see Madison go through the same horror her mom did

Perry... I am a ballet teacher, and I can tell you there is nothing better for little girls. It is when they get older and consider dance to be there proffesion when the weight issue comes in. I can understand your concerns though;) I have had some little plump puddings and they have made the most delightful little dancers and get the most enjoyment out of dancing... I love to watch my lill ones, they are so beautiful. It is an excellent form of exercise and develops excellent muscle controll (...my husband jokes with me because my calf muscles are bigger than his!)... most little girls want to be ballerina's and weight is the last thing a good ballet teacher will bring up to a little one!

Maybe I'm overly concerned because of what sis went through. I remember being totally horrified when Becky was 16...5'5" and 92 lbs...looking like a skeleton, and still refusing to eat, standing in front of her mirror saying she was still too fat.

It was living nightmare for several years...I've went in my bedroom and cried, fearing she would starve herself to death

I'm 5'5.5", 98 lbs. myself, I can honestly say I'm not fat.

Jeremy, I am about five pounds heavier (as of now) and six inches taller than you. I sure am not proud of being this underweight, either.

My adult son who is 27 only weighs 90 lbs at his heaviest , looks like he is just skin and bone. He has absolutely no body fat on him. Before he went into kidney failure in 1999 he weighed 100 lbs. As he went further into failure he lost 30 lbs and weigh 70 lbs when he was hopitalized after collasping at work. He stayed on hemodialysis until he learned to do dialysis at home by the manual method. On sept. 2 2000 he received a kidney transplant and gained some weight back but still has not goten up to the weight he was when he got sick. He lost height when he developed osteoporosis as a result of the kidney disease and dialysis combined so now he is only about 5'2" in height . Before the osteoporosis hit him , he was 5' 6" in height.

ColdFront77 wrote:I sure want to gain weight. I weight 100 to 105 pounds.

I had a physical today [first one in nealy four years]. There wasn't much done. The doctor "only" asked me several questions.
Had blood drawn, though. :o Hopefully the result will be fine.

DaylilyDawn wrote:My adult son who is 27 only weighs 90 lbs at his heaviest , looks like he is just skin and bone. He has absolutely no body fat on him. Before he went into kidney failure in 1999 he weighed 100 lbs. As he went further into failure he lost 30 lbs and weigh 70 lbs when he was hopitalized after collasping at work. He stayed on hemodialysis until he learned to do dialysis at home by the manual method. On sept. 2 2000 he received a kidney transplant and gained some weight back but still has not goten up to the weight he was when he got sick. He lost height when he developed osteoporosis as a result of the kidney disease and dialysis combined so now he is only about 5'2" in height . Before the osteoporosis hit him , he was 5' 6" in height.

DaylilyDawn, I am sorry to hear about your son's health.

I got my blood test results today (will get the numbers via mail in a couple days). Two readings came back lower then average, but nothing dangerously low everthing else tested, including kidney and thyroid came back fine.