By LIBBY MIDDLEBROOK
Ballet teachers want a public apology from Marian McDermott if her survey highlighting bullying in ballet is proven wrong.
Most of Auckland's ballet teachers met at an emergency meeting yesterday to discuss the Torbay woman's survey, which attracted wide media attention this week.
Ms McDermott, a dance teacher for 12 years, surveyed 40 students and found that oppressive teaching methods were still used in ballet schools throughout the country.
Some respondents said classes were "tormenting" and the competition was so cut-throat that some girls would pop pills to control their weight.
The survey also uncovered an incident in which a mother pushed her daughter's rival down a flight of stairs.
More than 20 teachers gathered in Greenlane to discuss the survey and decide how to deal with the publicity.
The teachers did not accept Ms McDermott's findings and are considering seeking legal advice as to the validity of the survey, which was presented last month at an international dance conference in Canada.
Options discussed yesterday included undertaking a large random survey of dancers and teachers, completed through the "proper channels," covering similar issues.
If the results disproved Ms McDermott's study, the group will demand a public apology from her for damaging the ballet industry.
"I've been teaching for 49 years and I've never heard of anything like what is in the survey," said Valerie Murray, who criticised the media for highlighting the negative survey results.
Many of the teachers said they were unaware of the study or that they could have taken part.
They want more information on how it was conducted.
Ms McDermott told the Herald that she would never apologise.
"I'm not going to back down because I believe this is a big enough issue that needs to be addressed. The people I've surveyed are not liars."
She said ballet teachers had plenty of opportunity to take part in the survey as she had publicised it at least three times in dance magazines in a bid to get volunteers. She had also written a lead article for a publication explaining the survey.
Teachers want apology if ballet claims refuted
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